Trade is a vital part of the Yellowhead riding’s economy and the lifeblood of the country, said MP Rob Merrifield.
On June 23 Merrifield was elected Chair of the standing committee on International Trade. He called the appointment a great privilege and it’s something he looks forward to leading.
“I believe there is a lot our committee will be able to accomplish for Canada on trade, and I know that our riding will benefit from my experience in cabinet and my many contacts throughout Canada and the U.S. from my time as the Chair of CAN-US,” Merrifield said.
What Canada does in terms of negotiating free trade agreements with major trading countries in the next 10 years is critical to the country’s economic success, Merrifield said. Recently, the government launched free trade negotiations with India and entered into negotiations with the European Union (EU). Agreements with these two countries alone would increase Canada’s national GDP by $6 billion and $12 billion respectively. These numbers represent jobs and industry profits that would come to Canada, and also to Yellowhead, if agreements can be reached, Merrifield added.
“When we formed government, there was a real lack of progress in promoting trade. In the previous 13 years, only three free trade agreements were signed by the federal government and none since 2002. Since 2006, our government has made promoting trade and opening markets for Canadian businesses a priority. We have signed free trade agreements with the European Free Trade Association, Peru, Columbia, Jordan, and Panama. Right now, our government is in the middle of negotiations on free trade with 50 other countries.”
The federal government is committed to opening up new markets for Canadian goods and services, Merrifield said.
“That is why we are moving forward with our robust and ambitious Free Trade Agreement Agenda. I look forward to moving this Free Trade Agenda along, through my new position as the new Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade. I believe that all of Canada, and especially Yellowhead, could benefit from increased trade in a wide range of industries including: forestry, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, machinery, energy services, and engineering.”
Canada Day is coming and the country has a lot to celebrate, Merrifield added.
“Our country is rated No. 1 in the world and we want to keep it that way. International Trade is one of the most important parts of that. I look forward to reporting to you on how our work on the Committee for International Trade for Canada is shaping up.”
