City of Calgary is preparing for the possibility of customs impact on operations – Calgary

Despite an announced 30-day break on tariffs imposed by the United States, the City of Calgary is investigating that the potential effects can charges and retaliatory measures could have on operations.

According to urban administration, effects are expected to be related to price fluctuations, changes in product accessibility and potential delays in the supply chain all if duty is introduced next month.

“We remain resilient and are prepared to tackle challenges that may arise from US tariffs and any mutual tariffs that Canada had to implement,” the city said in a statement to Global News. “We will continue to expand projections as more information becomes available.”

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondeek, who travels to Ottawa on Wednesday to meet with Canada’s Big City Mayors at Customs, journalists told Tuesday that the city of Calgary is not isolated to the customs threats.

“It is possible that some of the chemicals we use to treat the water are delivered to us from the United States,” Gondek said. “There is an exhaustive list of things our administration looks at so we can understand the full implications.”

According to the Calgary Construction Association (CCA), it is challenging to determine specific effects due to the integration of supply chains on both sides of the border.

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“It is so intensely integrated that it is actually very difficult to identify details because they are buried in the way we have operated for so long,” CCA President Bill Black told Global News. “For example, Aluminum Glader Canada is treated into the United States, for example, treated for products such as windows mullions and profiles and then sent back to Canada.”

David Cooper, the principal of leading mobility, said that the municipalities could see influences in purchasing special equipment such as transit buses, as an example.

“There is a very integrated supply chain there when you look at things like hydraulic systems or seats or technology, even the vehicle’s frame,” Cooper said. “There is a lot back and forth when it comes to production vehicles, but it really depends on where you are on the total shopping.”

The city of Calgary said has proactively taken measures to prepare for potential tariffs, but did not comment on what these actions are.

There are several ongoing projects in the city that are in various stages of shopping, including the Event Center and Green Line LRT.

Although Black said he does not expect an impact on the Scotia Place project with shovels already in the ground, he noted that there is still time to prepare if duty is eventually imposed.

“We have time, we have 30 days delay now, these projects are in planning,” Black said. “We have recommended that owners should exclude tariffs when they submit prices. The reality is that the industry does not take the risk of customs. “

Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong said the city has to rely on “good shopping management” to ensure that costs on urban projects and services remain within the budget.

Wong said City Administration works with stakeholders around how the city acquires materials and the cost consequences of tariffs.

“From a shopping perspective, we might see shopping throughout Canada rather than going to the state,” Wong said.

The city of Calgary said it remains obliged to “ensure the best value for public funds”, but it is still unclear whether the expected effects will be felt if a decision exists over the next 30 days.

& Copy 2025 Global News, a Department of Corus Entertainment Inc.