Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) applauds the Canadian government and, in particular, the efforts of Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Ambassador David MacNaughton, and the Canadian negotiating team, on reaching an agreement with the United States and Mexico, to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), now called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“The USMCA will ensure certainty and improved trade stability among all three countries,” says FPAC CEO Derek Nighbor. “FPAC is specifically pleased with the outcome of maintaining the existing Dispute Settlement Mechanism as this allows all industries in the three countries to challenge discriminatory trade actions.”
FPAC believes that the conclusion of this 13-month negotiation is a great first step to improve Canada’s competitiveness in the world and looks forward to now working with the federal government on implementation of measures outlined in the recently tabled Economic Strategy Tables to address remaining competitiveness challenges.
FPAC encourages our first class negotiators to continue their efforts to promote global free trade for all forest and bioeconomy products. This includes the swift ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
“FPAC looks forward to the rapid ratification of the USMCA and congratulates Team Canada, including provincial leaders of all party stripes, for their hard work and commitment to achieving on this 21st-century agreement”, added Nighbor.