Minister Qualtrough to promote Canada-United States trade at the Oregon Consular Corps' Trade Gala in Oregon

GATINEAU, QC, May 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada and the United States share one of the most mutually beneficial economic relationships in the world. Canada is the number one market for most American states and is among the top three customers for the majority of states. The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening this important relationship and to creating new opportunities for workers and businesses on both sides of the border.

As part of these efforts, this week the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, will visit Portland, Oregon, where she will deliver a speech at the Oregon Consular Corps' Trade Gala. The Minister's remarks will stress the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as an engine of growth and prosperity for Oregon.

During the trip, Minister Qualtrough will also attend roundtables on uncoated groundwood paper, metals and women in business, and will meet with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and members of the Oregon business community.

Quotes

"Canada is the top export market for the majority of American states and in the top three markets of 48 states, including Oregon, where we're second. Canada?Oregon trade partnerships are diverse: from aerospace parts to tree fruit, from machinery to building materials and from semi-conductors to energy products."

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"Canada and the United States have the greatest economic partnership of any two countries in the world. We are energetically at work modernizing and updating NAFTA in a way that upholds and defends the best interests of Canadians. We know a fair deal, a win-win-win deal, is within reach. That is what we are working towards. Canada is absolutely committed to this outcome, and we are working tirelessly to achieve it."

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

• More than 98,000 jobs in Oregon depend on trade and investment with Canada.
• Oregon exported more than CAN$2.3 billion worth of goods and services to Canada in 2017, an increase of more than 8% over 2016.
• NAFTA is the biggest and most comprehensive economic region in the world, with a regional market of 480 million consumers and a combined gross domestic product of US$21 trillion.
• Canada and the United States share the world's longest secure border, over which approximately 400,000 people, and goods and services worth CAN$2.5 billion, cross daily.
• Canada and the United States share one of the largest trading relationships in the world. Canada is the largest market for the United States, with US$283 billion worth of goods exported to Canada in 2017, more than China, Japan and the United Kingdom combined.
• Millions of good middle-class jobs on both sides of the border depend on this partnership. In the United States alone, nearly 9 million jobs are linked to Canadian trade and investment.
• Canada and the United States share values and interests on a range of international issues, including human rights, democracy, development, defence, nuclear non?proliferation and counterterrorism.

Associated links

• Canada and United States relations
• North American Free Trade Agreement: Resources
• North American Free Trade Agreement: Important news
• State trade fact sheets

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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada