ALBERTA-The Business Council of Alberta is encouraging all Parliamentarians to work together and ratify The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement as quickly as possible.
Yesterday the US Senate ratified the USMCA, the “New NAFTA.” Mexico’s Senate has already done the same. This leaves ratification by the Canadian House of Commons as the final major hurdle to the implementation of this important free trade deal.
“This agreement paves the way for many more people in Canada to grow their prosperity and achieve a great life,” says Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta. “Over NAFTA’s two decades, Canadian exports to the US and Mexico increased substantially and now millions of Canadians have jobs related to that trade. That number will increase further under this modernized trade deal, but Canada needs to move quickly,” says Legge.
Important stats on the Canada-US-Mexico trade relationship:
- 78% of Canadian trade is done with the US and Mexico
- 2 Million Canadian jobs depend on trade with the US and Mexico
- Over the NAFTA period, exports from Canada have tripled to the US and Mexico
Free trade between Canada and its North American partners is overwhelmingly in the interest of all Canadians, and every region from Coast, to Coast, to Coast. It is not a partisan or political issue. The Council encourages leaders and members of all 5 political parties as to work together on ratification as quickly as possible.
The fastest that Canadian Parliament has ever passed a trade agreement was 28 sitting days for The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Council is encouraging all legislators to make this agreement a priority for the prosperity of all Canadians and set a new record with USMCA.
“What Canadians consistently say they want from their elected officials is compromise, agreement, and working together to actually deliver. USMCA is a chance to do exactly that,” says Legge.
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About the Business Council of Alberta The Business Council of Alberta is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building a better Alberta within a more dynamic Canada. Composed of the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of the province’s largest enterprises, Council members are proud to represent the majority of Alberta’s private sector investment, job creation, exports and research and development.
Feature Photo: U.S. Department of State