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Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba exports to U.S., China plummet
While Manitoba's exports to the United States and China plunged earlier this year, the dollar value of its imports soared. U.S. imports to Manitoba hit roughly $10.97 billion in January through May — an eight per cent increase from the same time in 2024. Meanwhile, imports from China jumped 6.9 per cent year-over-year, totalling $684 million. 'It's surprising,' said Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Files Canola and corn grow south of Rivers on Tuesday. Canola oil and meal have been slapped with massive import tariffs by the Chinese government, leading to a downturn in trade. He's tracked a sentiment across businesses to bring their supply chains closer to home. Uncertainty has rocked the private sector since Donald Trump was elected U.S. president in November. Tariffs and tariff threats have made regular headlines, shaking operations and causing companies to pause future investments. Davidson pointed to a weaker Canadian dollar: some companies can't get materials they require within Canada and must pull from the United States. Those goods are likely more expensive, he surmised. A Canadian dollar equated to US$0.73 on Wednesday. The exchange rate began increasing last fall, ahead of the U.S. election. Companies also bulk bought in preparation for tariffs, noted Fletcher Baragar, a University of Manitoba economics professor. The rush could've shown in the January through May import numbers, recently released by the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics. Manitoba's exports to the U.S. dropped 14.7 per cent year-over-year; they fell 29.8 per cent when looking at China. The export values totalled $5.55 billion and $481 million, respectively. Davidson cited the 'Trump factor' for the U.S. decrease. The Trump administration has placed tariffs on aluminum, steel and items not meeting the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on trade. Globally, countries have been slapped with U.S. tariffs. It's affected businesses like Kathy Tran-Riese's. Tran-Riese opted to pause sales in the U.S., starting in May, to avoid the cost of her glasses frames more than doubling. KayTran Eyewear imports frames to Winnipeg from China before exporting to the United States. The U.S. deems the goods Chinese by their country of origin; Trump stripped China of an exemption where packages under $800 were shielded from tariffs. 'I had a pretty large consumer base in the U.S.,' Tran-Riese said Wednesday. Roughly half of her revenue came from the southern clientele. However, since halting shipments to the U.S., she's seen an 80 per cent jump in sales: she's been holding pop-ups across Canada. '(There's) an initial myth that you think you have to … have a stronghold in the U.S. to build good revenue,' said Tran-Riese, who had Canadian customers asking for pop-ups before Trump's inauguration. 'This has really taught me otherwise.' Boosting interprovincial trade will help lessen reliance on United States exports, Davidson said. So will increasing trade to other countries, both he and Baragar relayed. Manitoba's non-U.S. exports jumped 6.5 per cent year over year, when comparing January through May. The total reached $2.55 billion. Non-U.S. imports rose at a faster pace — up 10.3 per cent, to $3.65 billion. 'I suspect we'll probably see more of that in the future, but those numbers are proportionately very, very small,' Baragar said. 'There's enormous potential for growth, but Canada — certainly for the last 50 years — hasn't really been looking in those directions.' Nineteen European delegates visited Manitoba in April, expressing a desire for more trade. Africa and other Pacific Rim countries are also candidates for future growth, from Baragar's view. Chinese tariffs remain in place. Cam Dahl, general manager of Manitoba Pork, said he's 'not surprised' by the statistic of fewer exports. China placed tariffs of 100 per cent on Canadian canola oil, canola meal and peas, and of 25 per cent on some pork, fish and seafood. The measures came as retaliation to Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. Dahl is meeting with Canadian, American and Mexican counterparts later this week to discuss trade, among other topics. 'It just shows — the understanding of the value of that integrated market isn't just in Canada, it goes across North America,' he said. 'There's just so much uncertainty.' Prime Minister Mark Carney has circled July 21 as a Canada-U.S. deal deadline. The outcome will shape Manitoba's import and export numbers for the rest of the year, Baragar forecast. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined Manitoba in experiencing a year-over-year decrease in international merchandise exports in May. (Manitoba's drop was the largest, at 19 per cent.) Energy, forestry and industrial equipment exports plunged that month, Statistics Canada data shared publicly by the Saskatchewan government show. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Generally, Manitoba exports decreased nine per cent — to $8.11 billion — when comparing 2025's first five months to 2024's. Imports jumped 8.5 per cent, to $14.62 billion. Manitoba trucking firms have been shuttering and laying off staff due to less demand, the Manitoba Trucking Association confirmed last week. The provincial government is increasing its export support program and passed the Fair Trade in Canada Act to promote trade within Canada and abroad, Business Minister Jamie Moses said in a statement. The New Democrats hired Richard Madan, a former reporter, to become Manitoba's trade representative to the U.S. Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
14-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Biz leaders thankful for tax deferrals, ask for more help amid wildfire losses
Business leaders have praised Manitoba for offering sales and payroll tax deferrals to those affected by wildfires. 'That's fantastic,' said Kory Eastman, president of the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce, which has 100 members in the evacuated northern city and neighbouring Saskatchewan communities of Creighton and Denare Beach. 'Any kind of assistance is positive.' He expressed gratitude to Premier Wab Kinew for showing up Thursday to witness the damage caused by a massive blaze and talk to firefighters. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES On Thursday, Finance Minister Adrien Sala announced optional deferrals of the retail sales tax and payroll tax to help businesses affected by the unprecedented emergency that has forced 21,000 Manitobans to flee 27 communities. On Thursday, Finance Minister Adrien Sala announced optional deferrals of the retail sales tax and payroll tax to help businesses affected by the unprecedented emergency that has forced 21,000 Manitobans to flee 27 communities. 'We haven't seen any matching communication from the Saskatchewan side,' said Eastman who is staying in Edmonton. 'It'd be nice to see that as well,' said the chamber president, who is manager of the Flin Flon Credit Union. 'We've been able to re-establish services working remotely which been has been a challenge but obviously you know we're there for our members and for our customers.' He said he appreciated Premier Wab Kinew flying to Flin Flon on Thursday to see firsthand the empty streets and businesses shuttered by the wildfire. 'He got to kind of see what's happening on the ground there.' Eastman said he hopes Kinew's visit might prompt more provincial support for businesses. 'Maybe with a little more understanding, we'll see even more movement and support from the government, but I can't complain. They've been good so far with our area, I believe,' he said. 'Comparing to the other side of the border, (Saskatchewan Premier) Scott Moe has not been been there, and Denare Beach was devastated as a community, losing 300 properties,' said Eastman, noting Moe sent provincial officials to view the fire-ravaged community. He said he spoke to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Friday about its discussion with the government for supports for members that are under evacuation. 'Tax holidays are not something they often can give out, but we're pleased with any kind of progress, and still we'll hopefully keep the communication open,' Eastman said. A spokesman for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the tax deferrals are 'helpful first steps' to deal with evacuations, lost revenue and supply delays. Seasonal businesses and those in northern and rural communities will need more help as the wildfire situation unfolds, spokesman Tyler Slobogian said Friday. The CFIB wrote to the finance minister June 2 in which it asked him to consider emergency grants, broader tax flexibility, and expanding Disaster Financial Assistance eligibility for small businesses. It hasn't received a response, the spokesman said. They're also hoping for an extension or expansion of similar sales and payroll tax deferrals available from February till July that were announced by the province in March in response to U.S. tariffs, he said. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'CFIB members are being squeezed by rising input costs, supply chain instability, and additional labour challenges,' Slobogian said. 'Additional relief such as financial support for impacted industries, or permanent targeted tax reductions, would help offset these costs,' he said. 'The dual pressure of wildfire disruption and trade uncertainty is putting serious strain on Manitoba's small business community. Confidence has taken a large hit.' The CFIB's 'business barometer' shows a 6.5-point drop in Manitoba's long-term outlook, which is now the lowest in Canada, Slobogian said. 'This marks a new low, even beneath the confidence levels we saw during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.' Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
06-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Manitoba premier promotes more interprovincial trade, possible energy corridor
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has announced another interprovincial trade deal, and has promoted plans for a northern energy corridor that could include a pipeline. Kinew told the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce that his government is finalizing a memorandum with British Columbia to cut trade barriers between the two provinces. Similar to a recent deal with Ontario, it's aimed at allowing more goods and services to flow freely, and Kinew says it will give Manitobans access to another big market. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Kinew also told the business crowd he plans to have Manitoba show itself as the path to getting natural resources to tidewater. He says among the possibilities are a new port on Hudson Bay and a pipeline to carry anything from oil to potash slurry. Kinew says something needs to get built in Western Canada, and it's up to the private sector to build a business case for the best plan. Story continues below advertisement
Winnipeg Free Press
13-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba Champions awarded
Businesses and individuals were named 'Manitoba Champions' by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce on Monday night. The non-profit chose 10 'Future Champion' award recipients who advance economic growth and community well-being using 'impact, innovation and heart,' a media release reads. Pamela Kolochuk, Peak of the Market's chief executive; Derek Earl, chair of BizforClimate; and Marcel Kringe, founder of Bushel Plus received awards. Seven businesses joined them: La Brasserie Nonsuch Brewing Co. and QDoc, a virtual health-care platform, were Winnipeg representatives; Lynn & Liana Designs in Steinbach; Friesens Corporation in Altona; Southport Aerospace Centre near Portage la Prairie; Valley Fiber in Winkler; and Sperling Industries in Sperling also made the list. The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce chose two recipients for the Lieutenant Governor Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Payworks was the 2025 business awardee. Doug Stephen, president of Wow Hospitality Concepts, was the individual chosen. The Manitoba Chambers has partnered with the lieutenant governor on its accolade since at least 2001. The award was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Free Press staff
