Minister Ng meets with members of U.S. Congress on strengthening Canada-United States trade relations

Canada and the United States share one of the longest-standing, closest relationships in the world. It is built on shared geography, values, and interests and on people-to-people ties and deeply integrated supply chains. As both countries finish the fight against COVID-19 and work toward a strong, sustainable, inclusive recovery, the ongoing collaboration and strength of this relationship will play a crucial role in creating jobs and generating prosperity for workers and businesses on both sides of the border.

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, concluded a day of productive virtual meetings with a diverse group of members of the U.S. Congress from across the United States, including representatives and senators from both parties, and leaders from labour and industry to discuss post-pandemic economic recovery. These meetings built on the ongoing work of the Road Map for a Renewed United States-Canada Partnership and reinforced the strength of the economic partnership between Canada and the United States.

Minister Ng and the members of Congress discussed shared interests, including ongoing work to revitalize and expand the historic relationship between Canada and the United States and realize its full potential in supporting long-term growth in the two countries’ shared economic recovery. Minister Ng highlighted the two countries’ commitment to strengthening their supply chain security and to advancing shared priorities on labour, inclusivity, and the environment to build stronger, more competitive economies.

Minister Ng reiterated Canada’s commitment to a successful implementation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and highlighted the importance of Canada-United States trade relations in making the North American economy more globally competitive. She also raised key priorities for Canadian workers and industry, including collaboration on natural resources, including forestry, and energy. 

Quotes

“The Canada-United States trade relationship benefits workers and people on both sides of our shared border. It thrives on our long-standing, deeply integrated supply chains—the networks of workers and businesses that aren’t just trading goods but making them together for use at home and around the world. Today’s positive, productive meetings were another step on the long road of our ongoing partnership. We look forward to continuing to work together to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger and more competitive than ever, with a recovery that works for everyone.”

– Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

Quick facts

• Canada and the United States benefit from a trillion-dollar trade and investment relationship that supports millions of middle-class jobs on both sides of the border.
• Canada is the United States’s largest customer and buys more goods from the United States than do China, Japan and the United Kingdom combined.
• In 2019, approximately 77% of Canada’s exports to the United States were goods used in the production of other goods.