Minister Sohi to advocate for Canada in North Dakota

OTTAWA, June 10, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada and the U.S. share one of the most mutually beneficial economic relationships in the world. Canada is the number one market for most U.S. states and is among the top three customers for the majority of states. The Government of Canada remains committed to strengthening this important relationship and to creating new opportunities for workers and businesses on both sides of the border.

To support these efforts, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, will visit Bismarck, North Dakota, where he will meet with Governor Doug Burgum and deliver a speech at a luncheon hosted by the Bismarck-Mandan and Greater North Dakota Chambers of Commerce. The Minister's remarks will stress the importance of updating NAFTA as an engine of growth and prosperity for North Dakota. 

Minister Sohi will also host an Agriculture Commodities Roundtable discussion and meet with key business leaders from across the state to reaffirm the importance of two-way trade between Canada and the U.S. states.

Quotes

"Canada is North Dakota's #1 trading partner. From energy products to agricultural products and machinery, our trading partnership creates thousands of jobs in North Dakota and benefits both sides of the border. I am pleased to visit North Dakota to reaffirm this important relationship."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"We will continue to work at modernizing and updating NAFTA in a way that upholds and defends the best interests of Canadians. We believe that a fair deal, a win-win-win deal, is possible. That is what we are working towards."

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

• Canada is North Dakota's #1 trading partner and #1 export destination.
• Trade and investment with Canada supports 28,500 jobs in North Dakota.
• In 2017, bilateral goods trade between Canada and North Dakota totaled just over US$6 billion.
• NAFTA is the biggest and most comprehensive economic region in the world with a regional market of 480 million consumers and a combined GDP 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 CAD$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 and Japan, and the UK combined.
• Millions of good, middle-class jobs on both sides of the border depend on our partnership. In the United States alone, nearly 9 million jobs are linked to Canadian trade and investment.

Associated links

• Canada and United States relations
• North American Free Trade Agreement - Resources
• North American Free Trade Agreement - Important News
• State Trade Fact Sheet

Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada