Trudeau in Philadelphia to push ‘Team Canada’ charm offensive – National | 24CA News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Philadelphia Tuesday, on his first journey south of the border since his authorities launched a brand new “Team Canada” attraction offensive within the United States.
Officially he’s in Pennsylvania after accepting an invite to talk at a the Service Employees International Union quadrennial North American conference.
But the journey comes 5 months after Trudeau dispatched his trade and worldwide commerce ministers to guide the brand new commerce technique with American business leaders, labour unions and state and municipal governments.
The plan comes as Americans are headed towards a pivotal presidential election for each nations.
A possible return to the White House by Donald Trump brings recollections of the troublesome bilateral relationship throughout his first time period.
He has already promised to introduce a ten per cent flat import tax on all nations if he wins a second time.
In January, Trudeau acknowledged a second Trump presidency isn’t on Canada’s want checklist.
“It wasn’t easy the first time and if there’s a second time, it won’t be easy either,” he mentioned in a speech in Montreal.
He famous in that very same speech that he spent a variety of time throughout Trump’s presidency assembly with U.S. state governors to remind them how a lot they rely on Canada.
One week later he launched the renewed “Team Canada strategy on engagement with the United States.”
It’s an identical technique to the one employed through the Trump presidency, when Ottawa averted taking up Trump instantly as a lot as doable and as an alternative seemed to the companies and state governments that had been extra open to discussions.
The bilateral relationship throughout President Joe Biden’s time period has been friendlier, although not with out its personal bumps.
Canada and the U.S. have been shifting in lockstep on a lot of clear tech improvements together with rising ties within the electrical automobile provide chain together with essential minerals, EV batteries and semiconductors.
But initially Biden meant to supply a profitable EV tax credit score solely to American-made vehicles. An all-out effort by Canada satisfied the U.S. to increase it to incorporate North American-made vehicles earlier than the credit score was finalized.
Canada is the only largest participant within the U.S. economic system, representing virtually one-fifth of complete American exports. Mexico accounts for about one-sixth and China accounts of lower than one-tenth.
But the U.S. is a way more dominant marketplace for Canadian exports, accounting for 77 per cent of all Canadian exports in 2023, or virtually $600 billion.
China sits in second place with $30 billion, or 4 per cent of complete exports.
Canada has invested $30 billion within the electrical automobile sector within the final two years alone and is changing into the North American hub for EV battery manufacturing. But lots of these batteries are destined for electrical autos that will probably be accomplished and bought within the U.S.
The U.S. can be trying to Canada as a key provider of the essential minerals wanted for many clear applied sciences together with renewable energy and batteries.
Any changes in import taxes may have a devastating impact on that plan.
Trudeau can be set to satisfy with political and business leaders throughout his one-day go to.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
