Canadian premiers hope to maintain a good trade relationship with the United States as a presidential election looms.
The 13 premiers met in Nova Scotia’s capital city this week to discuss political issues, including imported and exported goods.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said it’s important that North America becomes one, with a joint approach to national and international issues, because of the “conditions that exist around the world.”
“It’s more important than ever that we’d be aligned in our purpose, and we have an opportunity to do that, and I certainly see that with my colleagues here,” Higgs told reporters Wednesday.
Former president Donald Trump put tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel first in 2018. Canada imposed their own tariffs on U.S. goods in response. Then Trump eased the tariffs in 201. But he brought more tariffs back in 2020, until Canada threatened to tax their exports back ahead of the election, which Trump lost to current President Joe Biden.
Higgs said the U.S. is Canada’s closest trading partner, with a longstanding relationship.
Any new administration that might come into power, whether the Democrat Joe Biden or the Republican Donald Trump wins the election, Higgs said that administration has to know “we are in a bigger battle now around the world.”
Regardless of who’s in charge in Washington, they’ll see the benefits of resources in the Atlantic provinces, said premier Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey.
“For us in Newfoundland and Labrador, we believe that we have what the world needs right now,” said Furey.
Renewable energy and non-renewable energy, like gas and oil, are big exports for the province, he said, and hopefully the next president “can appreciate that that’s an important component to their supply chain.”
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who hosted the meeting and often spoke on behalf of all the premiers, also said these are “traditional” trade routes between Atlantic provinces and the states, long-standing relationships that go back and forth, with Canada also purchasing lots of U.S. goods.
“I’m confident that new administration, whoever that may be, will see that, too,” he said.
