On Monday the first step was taken by Canada toward ratifying the new North American trade agreement. The deal was made just three days ahead of Mike Pence’s trip to Ottawa who is a Vice President of the U.S. for talking about the passage of the treaty.
To the House of Commons, Chrystia Freelan the Foreign Minister presented what is known as a “ways and means motion”. This opens a passage for presenting the bill in a formal way.
On May 17, The United States struck deals for lifting tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Mexico and Canada. It removes one of the major obstructions to governmental approval of the new USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement); it is a trilateral business deal for replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement which is 25 years old.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Pence are going to discuss “advancing” ratification in meeting on May 30 in Ottawa.
After presenting the motion, Freeland told reporters, “The entry into force of this contract does not depend only on Canada”. “Insofar probably, we propose to move in tandem with the United States.”
The top trading partner of Canada is the United States, taking about 75% of the good exports. Attaining a new trade contract had been the main concern for Trudeau’s Liberal government as the national election is to be held after 5 months.
Some Democrats from the United States have come out against ratifying the deal agreement. On Monday While Freeland has said the government is “full steam ahead” on ratification. She would not say whether the government would push to get it done prior to parliament goes into the break ahead of the election.
On Friday, former Liberal foreign minister John Manley said that this summer Canada should pass the new agreement. According to Manley, “it is going to be a signal for the United States Congress to fail to pass that for renegotiations it is still open.”
