American politicians and negotiators were surprised by CanadaB次元官网网址檚 resilience and unity during North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations, according to a federal cabinet minister.
During a discussion about foreign trade at the Vancouver Island Economic AllianceB次元官网网址檚 Economic Summit on Thursday, Navdeep Bains, the minister of innovation, science and economic development, said the United States administration felt it could divide Canadians, but ultimately failed to do so.
B次元官网网址淭he Americans were stunned because the divide-and-conquer game didnB次元官网网址檛 work. They couldnB次元官网网址檛 pit a sector against one another, they couldnB次元官网网址檛 pit a region against one another or a politician against one another,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e were all united and I think that really strengthened our negotiations and ultimately allowed us to get a good deal.B次元官网网址�
Bains, who touched on a range of topics including the IslandB次元官网网址檚 recent designation as foreign trade zone, described the NAFTA/USMCA negotiations as an intense B次元官网网址渆motionalB次元官网网址� rollercoaster ride. He said the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 position was to ensure free trade with the United States continued and that Chapter 19 B次元官网网址� a dispute mechanism giving Canada, United States and Mexico the right to challenge anti-dumping duties in front of panel of members from all three countries B次元官网网址� remained.
B次元官网网址淲e need to have a dispute settlement mechanism in place. We need to make sure that there are rules that are being followed B次元官网网址� that was something that we remained firm on. That was a red line issue for us,B次元官网网址� Bains said, adding that the Americans did everything they could to remove Chapter 19.
There were also a lot of behind the scenes B次元官网网址減layersB次元官网网址� who helped influence President Donald Trump and the U.S. administration, according to Bains. He said Canadian negotiators had a B次元官网网址渢eam CanadaB次元官网网址� mentality and put on a B次元官网网址渃harm offensiveB次元官网网址� with U.S. governors, congress, mayors and the business community.
B次元官网网址淭here was no relationship that we did not engage with,B次元官网网址� Bains said.
Bains told the crowd he personally spoke with Matt Bevin, the governor of Kentucky, about the importance of maintaining free trade with Canada. He said Bevin is very close to Trump, but knew that Canadian tariffs on American aluminum and steel would hurt his state, which produces the No. 1-selling pickup truck in Canada.
B次元官网网址淸Bevin] understood how important that was,B次元官网网址� Bains said. B次元官网网址淪o, he proactively worked with us and other like-minded individuals who were close to the administration.B次元官网网址�
Speaking to the B次元官网网址 Bulletin afterwards, Bains said CanadaB次元官网网址檚 relationship with the United States will outlast any president because it is extremely deep. He said the negative comments about Canada from the United States during renegotiations werenB次元官网网址檛 easy to hear, but that Canadians remained unified throughout the process.
B次元官网网址淭hat strong united team Canada front allowed us to get a good deal,B次元官网网址� he said.
Although the federal government already recognized the need to diversify trading partners, Bains said the NAFTA/USMCA renegotiation efforts reinforced that. He said Canada has nearly finalized a free trade agreement with Europe, is close to signing off on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and wants to deepen its trading relationships with China, India as well as countries in Southeast Asia, South America and Africa.
B次元官网网址淭here are so many other countries where there is enormous economic opportunities for us to trade. Our view is that we are a trading nation and we need to continue to look at other markets,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he U.S. is by far our No. 1 market and it is so critical, but I think it is not only the government, but Canadians now realize how important trade diversification really is.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 is hugely important and will really help small- to medium-sized businesses by creating a B次元官网网址渟trong brandB次元官网网址� for Island products and services, according to Bains. He said in addition to the FTZ designation, the federal government is aware of the labour shortage on Vancouver Island and that it remains committed to investing in education and job training to help address that issue.
B次元官网网址淲e believe that if we invest in people B次元官网网址� that they will get better jobs, quality jobs, higher-paying jobs and that they will be able to succeed ,B次元官网网址� he said.
Bains said continued immigration is also needed throughout Canada in order to help address the ongoing labour shortage. He said anti-immigrant rhetoric is growing nationwide and that some politicians are attempting to create division in Canada, which he believes is wrong.
B次元官网网址淧romoting division, promoting anti-immigrant sentiment is a great way to maybe win [politically], but it is a horrible way to govern and to build a country,B次元官网网址� he said.
More coverage of the Vancouver Island Economic Summit:
nicholas.pescod@nanaimobulletin.com
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