The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) has begun to collect data to monitor how the Canada-U.S. trade conflict is affecting local and regional economies. The national organization serves as a collaborative forum for civic and business leaders, public and private sector professionals, researchers and activists to discuss urban policy, promote best practices and advocate for a strong urban voice in the decision-making of senior levels of government. Its new effort to track tariff impacts replicates a similar exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“CUI is working with partners across the country to understand the impacts of economic measures at the local and regional level, and to identify actions that can be taken — by individuals, businesses, institutions, support organizations and governments — to mitigate the negative impacts and strengthen our economic resilience,” communication from the organization states.

It plans to collect data on employment levels, business activity, retail spending and investment indicators, including building permit volume, total investment in new building construction and commercial rent prices. Urban stakeholders and other interested parties are also invited to provide input through an online survey on the impact of both U.S. tariffs and Canada’s retaliatory measures and to report on how their local community may be responding.