Surrey, British Columbia
Karim Walji is bracing for financial setbacks, fearing that for the first time in eight years, he may have to downsize his workforce. The uncertainty weighs heavily on him, and he holds President Donald Trump responsible, viewing the tariffs as a reckless show of dominance.
“He wants the U.S. to assert its power,” said Walji, a partner at AI Industries, a steel fabrication company in western Canada. “It’s like he’s saying, ‘We’re bigger, we’re stronger, and we can push you around.’”
Just last week, AI Industries stood as a testament to the strength of U.S.-Canada trade, part of an economic partnership worth nearly $800 billion annually. Now, it finds itself caught in a volatile trade dispute that swings between confrontation and temporary relief. On Tuesday, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on nearly all Canadian and Mexican imports. By Thursday, he abruptly paused some tariffs for a month, adding further uncertainty to an already tense situation.
Walji strongly opposes tariffs, but what frustrates him even more is the unpredictability caused by constant policy shifts. He says the ongoing threats and sudden reversals have made it nearly impossible for businesses to plan ahead, leading to rising costs and economic strain on both sides of the border.
“Even just the possibility of tariffs has sent prices skyrocketing,” Walji explained. “When we bid on projects today compared to three months ago, our material costs have surged by nearly 15%.”
This visit to British Columbia marked the first international stop for the All Over The Map project, which has expanded beyond its original focus on the 2024 election to examine the real-world effects of the new administration’s policies.
A few days before the scheduled implementation of Trump’s tariffs, the AI Industries plant was operating at full capacity. Massive steel beams rolled along one conveyor, carefully positioned for precision cutting and drilling. Nearby, a worker meticulously welded angled braces, ensuring each piece met the required specifications.
In the yard, steel beams were carefully tagged and stacked, ready for transport. Many had been shipped from the U.S. by rail for custom fabrication—some destined for a Vancouver high-rise, others soon to return across the border for an office project in Alaska.
Canada has made it clear that its counter-tariffs will remain in effect unless the U.S. provides a permanent resolution.
American businesses are feeling the impact too, Walji noted. The specialized machinery required for steel fabrication comes with a hefty price tag. Nearly all of AI Industries’ large cutters and drills are American-made, with prices ranging from $400,000 to nearly $1 million. Several are due for replacement, but with retaliatory tariffs in place, Walji now plans to source equipment from Europe instead of the Illinois-based company he has relied on for years.
Beyond the economics, many Canadians see Trump’s approach as dismissive and disrespectful. Comments referring to Canada as America’s “51st state” and its prime minister as a mere “governor” have only fueled frustration.
British Columbia looks like a postcard come to life, with its breathtaking mountains, lush farmlands, and stunning waterways. Everywhere you turn, the impact of trade is evident—stacks of Canadian lumber lined up by the river, rail yards filled with cars transporting crude oil and agricultural goods, and a steady flow of trucks moving in and out of ports.
“If you observe for a full workday, you’ll see around 10 ships arriving and another 10 departing,” said Peter Xotta, CEO of the Port of Vancouver. “Last year, we handled about 160 million tons of cargo, with 75% of it being bulk commodities—grain, coal, potash, sulfur, and other agricultural exports.”
Xotta warned that a prolonged trade dispute would hit the region hard. “A lot of economic activity here relies on trade with the U.S.,” he said. However, he also noted that Canada is beginning to reassess its trade strategy.
“This has been a wake-up call, showing us that we need to reduce our reliance on a single trading partner,” he added.
For Vikram Vinayak, the uncertainty feels like a never-ending nightmare.
An immigrant who moved to Canada in 2019 to build a life with his wife and children, Vinayak works as a short-haul truck driver. He enjoys his job, but with most of his deliveries bound for the U.S., he’s now forced to consider other employment options.
“I usually do up to five runs a day, working 40 to 50 hours a week,” he explained. “But if new U.S. tariffs take effect, my shipments will drop, and so will my hours.”
Vinayak and his family used to travel frequently, making trips to Seattle for shopping and even vacationing in Las Vegas last year. But with rising costs and economic tension, he admitted, “Now, everything feels uncertain. I can’t even think about traveling.”
Darryl Lamb, brand manager at Legacy Liquor Store, suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a trade dispute.
Beyond the Canadian government’s counter-tariffs, British Columbia’s premier has introduced additional measures to express dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies. The province is now prohibiting the sale of American alcoholic brands from states that Trump won in 2024 and that have Republican governors.
This means Kentucky bourbon remains on shelves since Governor Andy Beshear is a Democrat, but Tennessee whiskeys like Jack Daniels are banned. Texas brands such as Yellow Rose Bourbon, Tito’s, and Deep Eddy vodka must also be pulled. It’s now Lamb’s responsibility to remove these products from inventory.
“We’ve seen this before,” Lamb noted. “During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we were asked to take all Russian products off our shelves.”
In the days leading up to the new trade restrictions, some customers rushed to buy their favorite American spirits before they disappeared. Others, however, took a different approach—demanding that all U.S. products be removed in protest against Trump’s policies and rhetoric.
“There’s a lot of emotion involved,” Lamb said. “Canadians take pride in their country, and when they hear things like ‘51st state’ or dismissive remarks about our leadership, it stirs frustration.”
He encourages customers to direct their concerns to their representatives rather than taking out their anger on store employees. Still, he understands why people are upset.
“We’ve stood by each other for years,” Lamb reflected. “We’ve fought wars together, gone to Afghanistan side by side—so why is this happening now?”
