B.C. Premier John Horgan is warning a possible American tariff on aluminum exports would cost the province “thousands of jobs” and says the province “will not be bullied” as politicians grapple with the threat of a looming global trade war.

“BC exports $600 million worth of aluminum to the United States each year,” Horgan tweeted Tuesday. “The proposed tariffs by the US would put thousands of BC jobs at risk, creating uncertainty for people and their communities.”

“We will not be bullied. We will not be pushed around,” he said in a series of tweets, noting the tariffs would also “threaten” the province’s ability to meet its climate change objectives.

BC exports $600 million worth of aluminum to the United States each year. The proposed trade tariffs by the US would put thousands of BC jobs at risk, creating uncertainty for people and their communities. #bcpoli #cdnpoli — John Horgan (@jjhorgan) March 6, 2018

BC has the lowest carbon aluminum production in the world. It is abundantly clear these tariffs are threatening the work we’re doing to meet climate change objectives and continuing to be a world-class manufacturer of aluminum products. #bcpoli #cdnpoli — John Horgan (@jjhorgan) March 6, 2018

We will not be bullied. We will not be pushed around. We’re working with the federal government to defend our aluminum industry, to defend jobs at the Rio Tinto smelter in Kitimat, and to defend the BC economy. #bcpoli #cdnpoli — John Horgan (@jjhorgan) March 6, 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel imports and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum. More details on the tariffs were expected this week. The Trump administration has said Canada — it’s largest source of steel — will only be exempted from the tariffs if concessions are made in the ongoing North American Free Trade Agreement talks.

Republican politicians and the American business community had been urging the President drop the plan – or at least exempt Canada and Mexico.

Despite the pushback, the U.S. President reaffirmed his plan Wednesday during a press conference at the White House Tuesday, telling reporters “trade wars aren’t so bad.”

The tariffs, he added, would be applied in a “very loving way.”

The American proposal has stunned the global trade world. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has called the possible American tariffs “completely unacceptable” and has said Canada is prepared retaliate if necessary in order to protect Canadian industry.

The European Union has also threatened to retaliate against the United States, with officials threatening to target goods like Kentucky bourbon, Levi blue jeans and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.