Several premiers heading to D.C. to push trade

WINNIPEG Several premiers are heading to the United States capital next month to push back against anti-trade sentiment south of the border.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he and several other provincial leaders are to spend June 5-7 in Washington, D.C., to promote the benefits of free trade. He said the trip was prompted in part by President Donald Trump’s attempts to change or even scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“We have to do our best to promote a better understanding south of the border of the (trade) relationship,” Pallister said Thursday.

“I think it demonstrates clearly to the representatives from around the United States who — whether they are directly involved in the meetings or not — that we value the relationship, that we consider it important and that they should too.”

Staff for Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant and Prince Edward Island’s Wade MacLauchlan confirmed Thursday those leaders will attend as well.

“The focus will be on trade generally, with NAFTA taking a front-row seat and ‘Buy America’ to a degree,” read a written statement from Wynne’s office.

“(Wynne) would be there with her colleagues to build relationships with key members of the administration, as well as members of Congress, and to discuss the mutual benefits of an interconnected economy and the good jobs that creates for both Americans and Ontarians.”

Canada is trying to counter a rising tide of protectionism in the U.S. Trump has criticized NAFTA and threatened to scrap the three-country trade pact if it can’t be renegotiated to his satisfaction.

The federal government, which is not involved in the June mission, has mounted an information campaign aimed at Trump and his cabinet — as well as Congress and state and local governments — to underline the mutually beneficial trade between the countries.