U.S. tariffs raised economic concerns for Calgary and Airdrie in March

In March, new U.S. tariffs and Canada’s retaliatory response raised concerns about economic fallout in Calgary — and what that could mean for nearby communities like Airdrie, where many residents commute into the city for work.

The United States imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian non-energy exports and a 10 per cent tariff on energy exports. Ottawa announced 25 per cent counter-tariffs on $30 billion in U.S. goods effective March 4, 2025, and said additional measures would follow if the dispute continued.

According to a Government of Canada countermeasures summary updated later in 2025, Canada removed counter-tariffs put in place in March on most U.S. imports effective Sept. 1, 2025, while counter-tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles remain in effect as negotiations continue.

The federal summary said the Sept. 1 change included removing 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion in goods that had been in place since March 4, 2025, and $14.2 billion in goods that had been in place since March 13, 2025.

At the time, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab ranked Calgary among the most trade-exposed cities in the country, citing high export intensity and reliance on U.S. markets, particularly in energy and agriculture.

Because Airdrie’s workforce is closely tied to Calgary’s economy, changes affecting major export-driven industries were expected to carry regional implications.

In economic outlook research released later in the year, the Conference Board of Canada said the trade dispute continued to suppress business confidence, slow investment and constrain economic growth nationwide. For Alberta, the Conference Board forecast that business investment would decline in 2025, with continued activity on smaller projects expected to support growth into 2026, and projected provincial GDP growth of 1.8 per cent in both 2025 and 2026.

Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director Marilyne Aalhus said local businesses were navigating continued uncertainty tied to federal trade policy and rising costs, with many focused on maintaining stability rather than expansion.