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Trade minister Ng chats with U.S. counterpart as continental trade tensions fester

Dec 1, 2021 | 12:47 PM

WASHINGTON — Canada’s trade minister is headed back to the U.S. capital just two weeks after joining Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his visit to the White House. 

Mary Ng met virtually Tuesday with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to talk about a number of festering trade irritants, including Canada’s “significant concern” with a proposed tax credit for electric vehicles. 

In a readout of their meeting, Ng’s office described the proposal as running counter to the terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. 

Ng also took issue with the U.S. making good last week on its plan to nearly double its duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.

She says the decision will hurt Canadian communities, workers and businesses, while only adding to the inflationary pain U.S. consumers are already feeling. 

Ng is in Washington until Friday for a number of in-person meetings, and has a contingent of opposition MPs in tow, including Conservative trade critic Randy Hoback. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2021.

The Canadian Press