SASKATOON, Sask. — Premier Scott Moe urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to stick with Team Canada's existing approach to trade negotiations as a foundation for reaching an agreement with the United States.
“Our message stays the same, and I think advocates have been actively involved in getting back to the table. We always want to be at the negotiating table with our largest trading partner, which is the United States of America,” said Moe after attending the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce's Premier's Panel on Business and Economy on Friday, Nov. 6, at Prairieland Park.
“As I said a year ago, last October, we were close to a deal that dissipated for some reason. This past summer, we were very close to a deal. In fact, the president [Donald Trump] announced that he had a deal with Canada on Thursday [Oct. 29] that dissipated on Friday of that week after years of negotiation.”
Moe believes much of the groundwork for an agreement is already in place and that, if both countries return to the negotiating table, a deal could be reached in a short time. He encouraged both Carney and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, whom he has met several times, to resume trade talks.
He said the province is fortunate that, overall, 94 per cent of its exports to the U.S. are exempt from tariffs. However, Saskatchewan's forestry industry is among the sectors affected by the trade war, with some products facing duties of approximately 35 per cent when entering the U.S.
“Although it is only six per cent of exports that we send to the U.S. that had tariffs, it has a 100 per cent impact on those particular exports [forestry and steel manufacturing] and the people who are working in those industries. We really want to find a way to agree to a free and fair trade relationship with our largest trading partner. We must accelerate a lot of good things that are already happening,” said Moe.
Moe also pointed out that it is difficult to replace the U.S. market, with Saskatchewan exporting roughly $45 billion worth of goods annually to markets around the world. He said government spending cannot realistically replace markets of that size.
He added that the province has taken steps to help affected businesses, industries and workers weather the uncertainty.
Moe mentioned SaskPower procuring locally made steel products, including steel poles, for provincial infrastructure projects as one example of helping the steel manufacturing industry and protecting its workers from the effects of the trade war. He said bringing some purchases forward by four to five years could help keep steel manufacturers operating and prevent layoffs.
He described the approach as a way to give businesses and workers more time while Canada works toward a trade agreement. He also pointed to potential opportunities from major energy and infrastructure projects in British Columbia and Alberta that could create additional demand for Saskatchewan steel.
