Premier Eby backs Canada's trade negotiation progress as deal remains in flux

Premier David Eby said B.C. is backing the federal government's negotiating stance with the United States, citing "substantial progress across strategic sectors" even as the final shape of any deal remains unclear.

Eby's statement came after Ottawa briefed provinces and territories on the ongoing talks. "While no agreement will offer everything our country is hoping for," he said, "we are hopeful about the possibility of an agreement."

The premier stopped short of endorsing any specific terms, emphasizing instead that the province will not accept a return to pre-negotiation conditions. "We will continue to push forward our work to find new trading partners and secure major projects to build a stronger, more resilient economy that benefits everyone."

The statement reflects tension in the negotiating process: neither the substantive details of progress across strategic sectors nor B.C.'s specific concerns and priorities in the talks have been disclosed publicly. The timeline and final deadline for conclusion remain similarly opaque.

B.C. businesses have been bracing for impact. As HighOnCity reported in August, the forest sector's outlook remained unclear even after a trade deal paused tariffs on Canada, and businesses across the province have been warning of consequences if talks collapse.