Manitobah Mukluks showcased during CETA signing

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This article was published 31/10/2016 (3582 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — A Manitoba company was showcased by International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland Monday as a prime example of how Canadians will benefit from the new trade agreement between Canada and Europe.

Sunday night, Freeland tweeted a photo of herself giving European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström a pair of Kanada moccasins made by Manitobah Mukluks. During a news conference about signing the deal Monday she noted the Winnipeg-based company will benefit once the deal is ratified.

“I thought it was a gift Cecelia would like,” Freeland said of the mukluks. “She is from Sweden so she is used to the cold. But I also chose that gift to remind Canadians that opening up markets, and the EU is a market of half a billion people, creates tremendous opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses across the country. In this case, those Mukluks are currently subject to a 17 per cent tariff in Europe. That tariff will go down to zero after CETA is ratified.”

CETA eliminates most tariffs applied to Canadian exports destined for Europe (and European exports destined for Canada). For the Winnipeg company, the tariff on the 20 per cent of its products that are made in Canada will be eliminated under CETA. It’s not entirely clear whether the moccasins and Mukluks made overseas will meet the country-of-origin requirements for no tariff although it is likely they will.

The change should make the mukluks and moccasins an easier sell in Europe. The company’s website indicates it already has a global presence with sales in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden which are all part of the EU.

Manitobah Mukluks was founded by Sean McCormick in 1990. In a statement emailed to the Free Press Monday, McCormick said it was an honour to have the product chosen as a gift for the CETA signing.

“That gift is symbolic of a tradition that has existed in indigenous communities for generations,” said McCormick. “We often bestow new moccasins upon those who are about to start a new journey or enter a new relationship together.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Brussels to sign the completed deal on Sunday, although it must still be ratified in both Canada and across the EU. Freeland said Canada has been told the European Parliament should hold a ratification vote in December.

Canada tabled the agreement and introduced enabling legislation Monday afternoon. Provinces could also have to introduce legislation to address CETA changes although Manitoba Trade Minister Cliff Cullen said Monday he didn’t believe Manitoba needed to change any legislation in order to accommodate CETA.

He said Manitoba will be a big beneficiary of the deal, with an estimated $200 million in additional exports, including agriculture, manufacturing and the service sector.

“Manitoba is a trading province,” he said.

Freeland said Monday Canada and Europe are signing this at a time when many around the world are talking about closing borders rather than opening them, is a big deal.

“CETA is a trade agreement but it is also a very important message from Europe, from Canada, to the world, that open, progressive globalization is possible,” Freeland said. “That even in 2016 it is possible to have policies that are about building bridges and not building walls.”

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

Gave a pair of @Manitobah Mukluks to @EUMalmstrom -- a great Canadian company that will benefit directly from #CETA! pic.twitter.com/fh14FkgctE

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) October 30, 2016