The Yukon government will be pausing retaliatory measures it had announced in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threat.
The update from the premier's office comes as a result of the U.S. putting a 30-day pause on 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States.
Policy work will continue to ensure the Yukon government is ready to respond in the future as needed, per cabinet communications.
"Thanks our collective work as Canadians, the US is hitting pause on its Canadian tariff plan," Premier Ranj Pillai said in a Facebook post on Feb. 3.
"While this pause is underway, let's all keep doing what we can to stand up for Canada, support local businesses, and protect our way of life."
The news of the pause on implementing tariffs came on the heels of meetings between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump.
Trudeau announced Canada will be carrying out a $1.3-billion border plan, saying that close to “10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.” The plan involves appointing a “Fentanyl Czar” as well as listing cartels as terrorists, committing to keep a 24/7 watch on the border and creating a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.
An investment of $1.3 billion to address border security and the immigration system was previously announced by the feds in December 2024.
An official statement from Pillai calls the delay by the U.S. a “step in the right direction.”
He welcomes the efforts the two countries are making together to address illegal drugs flowing over the border “in both directions.” He commented on the impact of the territory’s substance use health emergency declared in January 2022 by the Yukon government.
“Hopefully this joint action will mean fewer lives are lost due to toxic drug use here in the Yukon,” he said.
The Yukon government had directed U.S. alcohol products be pulled off the Yukon Liquor Corporation store shelves but has put a halt on that directive. The hold also applies to excluding U.S. businesses from bidding on Yukon government procurement opportunities.
A potential toll on the Alaska Highway is something Pillai told the News was being considering as part of discussions with British Columbia Premier David Eby’s office.
Pillai said the decision today does not fix the uncertainty ahead for Yukon workers, businesses and communities.
“These tariffs — if and when they come into effect — threaten jobs, increase costs for families and disrupt supply chains that have benefited both sides of the border, for decades,” he said.
Pillai hopes the U.S. will recognize Canada as its neighbour, "closest ally" and “most trusted economic partner.”
He indicated he will keep working with Trudeau and Canada’s premiers on this matter.
Pillai plans to attend a joint mission with the premiers to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12.
In his statement, Pillai doubled down on buying local and Canadian.
“We must take this as a wake-up call to strengthen our own economy by prioritizing purchases that are made locally or in Canada,” he said.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com