U.S. officials tout new NAFTA, COVID-19 teamwork in Canada Day messages

OTTAWA -- The coming into effect of the new North American Free Trade Agreement and the cross-border collaboration in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 were the focus of statements of well-wishes from U.S. officials on Canada Day.

“As countries around the world face the health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud to see our partnership with Canada in action. We have engaged in joint efforts to protect Canadians and Americans, and witnessed the dedication and service of frontline workers on both sides of the border,” said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel since mid-March and is set to stay that way until July 21 at least, as a number of states are now seeing massive spikes in new COVID-19 cases, while the epidemic in Canada has slowed considerably, outside of a few ongoing “hotspots.” In a separate statement, U.S. Charge d’Affaires Richard Mills—who represents the U.S. Embassy on behalf of incoming ambassador Aldona Wos—leaned on the importance of the Canada-U.S. relationship in facing the global pandemic.

“Officials in both countries have been in constant contact to manage the threat on

both sides of the border as well as help combat the virus globally,” Mills said. During his Canada Day address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also made note of the vastly different circumstances under which this national holiday is being celebrated. “This year is unlike any other,” Trudeau said.

NOTING NEW NAFTA

Both statements also touched on the landmark occasion of the new trilateral trade pact CUSMA or USMCA, depending on which side of the border you are on, coming into effect.

As of July 1 the renegotiated NAFTA is now in effect, three years after talks first began to rework the trilateral trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.