'There could be impacts': Trump victory leaves P.E.I. business groups wondering

As news sinks in that Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States, the Island business community is wondering what it means for them.

Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, said the U.S. is an important market, with 40 per cent of fresh potatoes being sold to the States. Processed potatoe products, such as french fries, are also a big export to the U.S. 

He hopes that doesn't change for the worse with Trump as president.

"We are certainly committed to that market and I'm very sure we're going to do what we can to maintain and grow that business," Donald said.

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Trump pledged to overhaul trade deals and protect American interests. Some local business groups hope governments here stay on top of issues.

"Given the nature of the industry in our province with potatoes and other exports, we have to be mindful and watching," said Pam Williams, president of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce. 

"I think there could be impacts, and we'll have to monitor to be sure our provincial representatives and our federal ones are monitoring carefully."

Don Desserud, a political science professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, called the election results "astonishing." He said it would take awhile to gauge the impact on Island business.  

"It's going to have an effect on Canadian-American relations, for sure," said Desserud, who was travelling to Boston on Wednesday for a political science convention.

"We're dependent upon them for a lot of our industry and jobs, in terms of trade and just the interconnection of our economy. We don't know yet how these things are going to roll out."

Jackson Doughart, a researcher with the Atlantic Institute of Market Studies, expressed concern the president-elect may bring in protectionist legislation that could lead to higher tariffs on Canadian goods.

"The markets [Tuesday] night responded unfavourably, of course, to the results as they were coming in, and Mr. Trump has had some pretty strong statements about foreign trade," he said. "I think he's not as hostile to trade with Canada, of course, as he is with Mexico and China but all the same, I think it is going to have a negative effect on us."