#BuffalolovesCanada

‘ A critical trade and economic partner, you have been our best friend and ally.’

Not since the War of 1812 has there been such tension between the United States and Canada. The current animosity directed at Canada emanating out of Washington, D.C. runs counter to the sentiment here in Buffalo where we work tirelessly to treat our international border as just a river located in the middle of one regional economy. As the regional chamber of commerce in Western New York, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership continues to strongly advocate for the free flow of goods and people between our countries as the Buffalo Niagara and Southern Ontario economies are intertwined.

In our advocacy work in both Albany and in Washington, we’ve lobbied heavily against foolish “Buy American” policies and most recently stood side with side with our friends from Hamilton along the banks of the Niagara River condemning the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. We continue to resist these protectionist and short-sighted policies.

In Buffalo Niagara, we owe a debt of gratitude to our Canadian friends. During the U.S. recession, it was the patronage of our Canadian neighbours that preserved about 3,000 jobs on this side of the border by travelling south and spending an estimated $1 billion in tourism and recreation alone.

Over a year ago, the Partnership began a strategic agreement with both the Greater Niagara and Hamilton chambers of commerce. Partnership members enjoy the full benefits of membership with our Canadian counterparts and vice versa. Why? Our collective members on both sides of the border do business together and want to build bridges between Canadian and American businesses. In a recent survey of Partnership members, 80 per cent of respondents identified themselves as having customers and/or supply chain relationships in Canada. When we say #BuffalolovesCanada, we mean it.

We believe strongly that Canada’s relationship with the United States is different and stronger than our relationship with any other country in the world, and the vitality of this relationship is especially important to New Yorkers. Canada is our largest customer with New York exporting more than $19 billion worth of goods and services to Canada last year. Nearly 681,000 jobs in New York depend on trade and investment with Canada. Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s steel and aluminum tariffs and resulting countermeasures

Canada’s relationship with the United States is different and stronger than our relationship with any other country in the world

are damaging this relationship. According to the U.S. Chamber, over a billion dollars’ worth of New York exports to Canada are targeted for retaliation.

As we continue to beat the drum highlighting the recklessness of these policies and the real economic harm they will inflict on both sides of the border, we will continue to build relationships with our friends to the north. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership will continue to vehemently oppose any policy that negatively impacts our trade and friendship with Canada. Canada is not only our critical trade and economic partner, you have been our best friend and ally. I am far from the only American who feels this way.

In solidarity ...