Ontario Premier Doug Ford said all provincial and territorial premiers are united in calling on the federal government to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.
Mr. Ford, the current chair of Canada’s 13-member Federal Council, said in a phone call Wednesday that there was clear agreement that separate agreements were needed with the United States and Mexico. Ta.
“Mr. Prime Minister, we know that Mexico is importing cheap Chinese parts, putting on Mexican-made stickers, and shipping them through the United States and Canada, costing American jobs and Canadian jobs. I know,” he said after the phone conversation. Wrapped. “We want fair trade.”
Asked specifically whether the prime ministers supported Ford’s proposal for a bilateral agreement with the United States excluding Mexico, Ford said yes.
Meanwhile, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey told reporters in Ottawa that what was agreed was a contingency plan.
“The concept was that if the old agreement failed, we would be interested in supporting two separate bilateral agreements,” he said. The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement is scheduled for review in 2026.
Concerns regarding Chinese transshipment via Mexico
The prime ministers are seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his officials to discuss the idea. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said members of outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration and advisers to President-elect Donald Trump have expressed “very serious” concerns about Mexico becoming a “backdoor” for Chinese goods. said.
Freeland is nervous that the country is in a good position against the incoming Trump administration, even as he threatens new tariffs as Ottawa moves in line with the U.S. on Chinese trade irritants. He has sought to reassure Canadians.
Mexican president criticizes plan
Prime Minister Trudeau said he raised the issue with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Brazil this week and highlighted his concerns directly to her.
Speaking to reporters in Mexico after Ford first raised the idea in early November, Scheinbaum said the idea had no future. He said when the trilateral trade agreement was first signed, Mexico insisted on including Canada in it.
Alberta Premier Daniel Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have both called for Mexico to be removed from the North American Trade Agreement. Kenneth Smith Ramos, Mexico’s former chief negotiator for NAFTA, answers.
Stuart Truew, a trade researcher at the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives, said he thinks the move is an attempt to change direction.
“It seems like what are they afraid of?” [President Donald] “Trump may do it when it comes to tariffs,” he said, adding, “The tariffs are taking the focus away from Canada and focusing it on Mexico. They’ve thrown Mexico under the bus.”
Instead, he said Canada and Mexico should work together on trade strategy during Trump’s second administration.
