President’s Canadian tariffs; SRP signs new deal with Canadian energy company

President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on select Canadian goods, a move the administration said is in response to Canada’s “discriminatory trade practices.” The tariffs take effect August 19, 2026, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has signaled he is open to negotiations.

Canadian energy company Pattern Energy and Salt River Project have signed a Power Purchase Agreement for 600 megawatts of SunZia energy. SRP will receive 400 megawatts beginning fall 2026 and increase to 600 megawatts by summer 2027. The deal is expected to support Phoenix’s rising energy demand with Canadian‑generated clean power.

Glenn Williamson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Arizona Business Council (CABC), joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss these developments.

Looking at how the tariffs will affect different everyday goods, Williamson said that the alcohol industry will be mostly unaffected, although he says that the dairy industry is in “deep, deep trouble” because of Canada’s strong presence in the dairy industry.

Although Williamson said that these tariffs implemented by the Trump administration are working in Canada because Canadian businesses are moving over to the United States.

“Canadian companies are moving their manufacturing operations into the United States. Keeping their R&D up in Canada and that way they’re keeping two financial reporting systems separate. They jump over the tariff wall and don’t deal with the tariffs,” Williamson said.

Although, Williamson said that this is adversely affecting operations in the U.S. because it is the raising the costs of goods.

“You’re working in aerospace and trying to use aluminum, everything is more expensive. So this doesn’t make sense on the reciprocal side of this,” Williamson said.

Delving into the Power Purchase Agreement, Williamson shared how this plan will look to solve some of the deficit of energy in Arizona

“The short-term solution to power is coming from wind farms in New Mexico and it’s coming from solar farms that will either be built or under construction right now,” Williamson said.

Williamson noted that these moves will triple the amount of wind energy on the SRP grid.