USMCA deal a positive, but questions still remain: Sask. trade minister

Saskatchewan’s trade and export development minister is calling the finalization of the new USMCA deal a positive, but he said there are still questions hanging in the air.

“We know that free trade with the United States has been massively beneficial for this country and this province which, very much, is an export-based economy. In that regard, we see it as being very positive that the negotiations have concluded,” Jeremy Harrison said Wednesday.

Harrison said a deal will provide some security and stability for the trading relationship with the U.S., which is “vital and important.”

But Harrison said just because the deal has been finalized doesn’t mean it will be ratified by all the countries.

He pointed out that the deal needs to get through the U.S. Senate, and it needs to be approved in Canada’s parliament, which isn’t a given right now.

“In a minority parliament situation, there still are some open questions because the NDP and the Bloc have historically opposed this agreement, and the NDP have historically opposed free trade with the United States,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the USMCA used the NAFTA agreement as a basis so he’s pretty clear on what’s going to be in the agreement, but he hasn’t seen the final language yet because it’s still being translated.

“We know the overall direction, which is a positive one, simply because of the fact that our trading relationship with the United States is just so vitally important for Saskatchewan,” he explained.

Harrison did point out there have been outstanding trade issues with the U.S. recently, such as steel and aluminium tariffs, tariffs on uranium, and softwood lumber tariffs and duties as well.

He said he spoke to the international trade minister recently and brought up the softwood lumber problems as something that needs to be dealt with.