Premier takes ‘Team Manitoba’ trade mission to Washington D.C.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/04/2024 (553 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Wab Kinew will lead a Manitoba delegation of business, labour and industry representatives on a mission to Washington, D.C. Monday, to build relationships “on both sides of the aisle” ahead of November’s presidential election and the expiration of the North American free trade deal.

“Part of the strategy that we’re invested in is to build relationships on both sides of the aisle in the States. (It’s) a bit of proactive planning and an insurance policy,” Kinew told the Free Press Friday.

His volunteer trade adviser — former premier Gary Doer, who was Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. from 2009 to 2016 — is part of the three-day mission to secure and expand trade with the province’s largest trading partner.

“There are elections coming up in the States,” Kinew said. “We want to have those relationships. The thing Mr. Doer has said that I take to heart is ‘relate before you negotiate.’” the premier said.

After Donald Trump became U.S. president in 2017, and threatened to end the North American Free Trade Agreement that had been in place since 1994, the Canadian government launched a widescale effort to convince Americans of the benefit of trade with this country.

NAFTA’s replacement — the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement — is scheduled to expire in 2026.

Kinew said he wants U.S. lawmakers and organizations to get to know — and like — Manitoba.

“Let’s go down and build these bridges and start to make the case (so) if we do have to engage in negotiations or work through policy questions in the future, we’ll have these relationships to return to,” said Kinew.

The delegation has set up meetings in Washington from Monday to Wednesday.

Doer said he started getting the ball rolling on a Manitoba charm offensive months ago by speaking with Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, as as well as Democrat and Republican government representatives.

“If you don’t show up, don’t expect people to know what your concerns are later on when it’s too late to change it,” Doer said Friday.

Republican candidate Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden have both touted protectionist policies that are popular with U.S. voters, but risky for Canadian businesses that rely on American markets.

In December, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce called on Ottawa and the provinces to launch a co-ordinated campaign to protect trade relations as the American 2024 election campaign ramps up, and to guard against protectionist policies that would sideline Canada.

“We need to bolster our presence on Capitol Hill and our relationships with key decision-makers and influencers around all areas of U.S. trade policy,” said Loren Remillard, CEO and president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, who will be part of the delegation.

He said Manitoba brings much to the table, including clean energy, critical minerals and North America’s largest inter-modal inland port at Centreport.

Remillard said he expects a warm reception and to forge relationship with business groups.

“They will be key allies as Canada and Manitoba seek to ensure — regardless of what transpires in November — that the relationship between our nations remains a priority and that keeping the border open and free of impediments to the movement of people and goods remains a priority,” Remillard said.

Manitoba companies that employ people on both sides of the border, including NFI Group Inc. (New Flyer Industries), are part of the mission and the message, Kinew said.

“We’ve got some really good exporters represented here — people who employ a lot of people here in Manitoba but also in a lot of American districts. That’s the fundamental case we want to make: ‘Of course we love trade, but trade is good for your constituents,’” Kinew said.

Doer said the Americans need to be reminded about the important cross-border relationships.

“It’s important to point these things out because they do come back to be an advantage,” said the former NDP premier.

Doer advised Kinew on who to meet and the best time to go to Washington — after the Easter break and before the popular White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, on April 27 “which a lot of the folks will be in town for,” he said.

This week, the heads of Manitoba’s United Steelworkers and the Mining Association of Manitoba will be in the U.S. capitol presenting a rare and united front — something that Manitoba Business Council president and CEO Bram Strain expects will have a powerful impact.

“When you have those types of groups travelling together with the same message, having those same discussions in the same room at the same time, those are very powerful. I think that’s really going to work in our advantage in this particular mission,” said Strain, who’s part of the delegation.

“For us to have that integrated ‘Team Manitoba approach’ and present a common ‘Friendly Manitoba front’ is really important,” the premier said.

Manitoba has a strong competitive advantage and much of what the U.S. needs, but that hasn’t been promoted for a number of years, said Kinew.

“They’re only going to be able to hit their industrial and energy needs if they have a good source of critical minerals — Manitoba has those things and we can bring them to market with better environmental standards and more respect for labour and human rights than anywhere else in the world,” the premier said.

“It’s important that we get back in front of an American audience and start to make the strong case that Manitoba has that advantage that really aligns with the goals America has for its future.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca