Federal minister talks trade with chamber members

A special roundtable held today gave Chamber members doing business in the US a chance to talk trade directly with federal Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng.

During the face-to-face meeting, the Minister said that Canadian businesses are all part of a Team Canada approach needed to remind Americans that Canadians are key customers and important allies.

“The US is our closest friend and biggest trading partner. No one knows that better than Greater Victoria businesses — the US is BC’s biggest customer, importing more than $30 million in goods and services annually,” Minister Ng told The Chamber after the meeting. “Through our Team Canada engagement, we are working together at all levels to make sure Canada and our relationship with the US stays centered in the minds of Americans. That effort needs the help of our businesses, like the members of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, to help highlight the incredible strength of this partnership. At the heart of this work is advancing opportunities for Canadian workers, businesses, and communities across the country and right here in BC.”

Among the many questions brought up during the discussion were challenges with the development of innovative mining equipment. Canadian firms face unfair competition from some overseas companies that don’t have the same strict environmental and labour standards. Minister Ng noted that the Canada United States Mexico Agreement can give BC companies an edge because it includes prohibitions against trade that involves forced labour or bad environmental practices.

The Minister also heard from Chamber members who wanted help making the connections needed to get products on US shelves, as well as others asking for a better coordinated national approach to procurement and distribution of goods and services.

To share questions or comments with the Minister’s team, email communications@victoriachamber.ca.