U.S. economic integration ‘last thing’ B.C. wants, Eby says ahead of White House meeting [Video]

The “last thing” that British Columbia is considering is further economic integration with the United States, Premier David Eby said Wednesday, as Canadian premiers prepared for a White House meeting with President Donald Trump’s advisers.

Instead, B.C. is “looking for other customers” for everything from aluminum to seafood, Eby said, speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C.

“Canada will never be the 51st state, but there’s lots we can talk about in terms of working closely together on transnational organized crime, or whatever it is the president is interested in,” Eby said.

“We don’t have to fight and cause economic damage to each other.”

Trump has made comments about making Canada the 51st state and has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods and 10 per cent on energy, on top of 25 per cent tariffs on aluminum and steel announced on Monday.

Eby joined Canada’s premiers in Washington …