Canada09 September, 20262 min read
British Columbia Premier David Eby Unveils “Never the 51st State” Border Signs Against U.S. Tariffs
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British Columbia unveils border signs declaring 'Never be the 51st state' to Trump. Signs installed at the BC–Washington border as retaliation against U.S. tariffs.
B.C. signs for Trump
British Columbia Premier David Eby unveiled new border signs telling travellers they are entering territory that is “NEVER the 51st state,” with one sign reading “Strong, proud and will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!” at a Tuesday press conference.
“Strong, proud and will NEVER be the 51st state. Sorry!”
The signs were unveiled as counter-tariffs on nearly $28 billion of U.S. goods went into effect, and Global News reported Eby said the province would post the notices at the B.C. border with Washington State.
Eby framed the message as a response to President Donald Trump’s “51st state” rhetoric, including Trump’s Truth Social post saying, “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!”
National Post also described the border signage as “Never 51st State” and said the signs were unveiled at a Wednesday press conference to coincide with the coming-into-force of 639 Canadian counter-tariffs targeting the U.S.
Buy BC and retaliation
Global News reported Eby said the province was once again encouraging people to buy local and was looking to strengthen the established Buy BC program to include products beyond produce and beverages. Eby also told Global News that “I don’t expect this to end quickly,” adding that “Neither Canada nor the United States are at the table together,” as he said Canada and the U.S. were not talking right now.
The National Post account said Eby’s government had taken other measures to signal displeasure with U.S. policy, including ordering the removal of all U.S. liquor from provincially run BC Liquor stores in March and saying in June there was “no chance in hell” he would reverse the decision. The Vancouver Sun similarly quoted Eby saying, “if our strategy depends on convincing Donald Trump of anything, then that is a failed strategy,” while describing his push for diversification and renewed Buy B.C. efforts as the trade war escalates.
Jobs, businesses, and stakes
Eby said the trade war would be costly, telling Global News that he anticipated it could drag on and impact numerous businesses and industries after counter-tariffs took effect.
HuffPost quoted Eby warning, “There is no getting around the fact that people will lose their jobs and businesses will close on both sides of the border,” while also saying Canadians should buy Canadian whenever they can.
National Post reported Eby anticipated damage from the trade war and said he didn’t see any immediate end to it, adding that he believed Canadians would “step up” if a similar tragedy were to occur on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Daily Hive said Eby described the “unfortunate reality of Trump’s trade war” as he asked British Columbians to choose to buy B.C. or Canadian products and services, while also saying the province was looking at additional countermeasures.