Local business leaders review new trade deal with U.S., Mexico
Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef met with 17 local business and industry leaders at the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce on Friday for what she called a “deep dive” into Canada’s new trade deal with the United States and Mexico.
Monsef, the MP for Peterborough-Kawartha, said she wanted to hear from local leaders about the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Local voices needed to be added to the larger conversation about the agreement that is expected to soon to be ratified, she said.
“This will carry all the way to Parliament Hill,” Monsef said, regarding the conversation. “This is the type of feedback the prime minister is interested in.”
USMCA is the trade agreement that will replace the North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) once it is ratified by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
It was clinched at the end of September after 13 months of negotiations.
Attendees at the round-table on Friday included Stuart Harrison, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Rhonda Keenan, president and CEO of Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development, and Northcrest Ward councillor-elect Stephen Wright. There were also representatives from the manufacturing sector, the construction industry, cultural institutions and the trades.
Following the discussion, Monsef said she’d heard concerns
about “unfair” tariffs placed on Canadian steel and aluminum.
U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on keeping his new 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and 10 per cent tariffs on aluminum – an important concern for the Conservative opposition as well as for business leaders.
Monsef said she has also heard recently from local dairy farmers concerned that USMCA allows more room than ever on Canadian grocery shelves for American dairy products.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had promised taxpayers’ dollars to compensate dairy farmers he admitted would be hurt by giving U.S. farmers partial access to Canada’s regulated dairy markets.
Monsef said on Friday her government will follow through on this promise to “mitigate that access” American dairy farmers will have to put their products on Canadian grocery shelves.
“We want to make sure the supply management system is protected,” Monsef said. “This is something I care deeply about.”