"Buy American" Trade Concerns

Mr. Ed Holder (London West, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Canadians are justifiably worried about the rising tide of protectionism developing in the United States.  Their “Buy American” campaign threatens our good trading relationship with them.

Across Canada, and especially in Southwestern Ontario, we are concerned this unprecedented approach to government spending will leave us out of critical business opportunities, and result in additional job losses in Canada.

I understand this past weekend the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss this and other critical issues. 

Would the Minister of Foreign Affairs please advise the House on what outcomes were achieved in their meeting?

    Hon. Lawrence Cannon (Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC): Speaker, I thank my colleague for that question.

    Our government is very concerned about the rising and particularly negative impacts of buy American legislation. We raised these questions this weekend when I met Secretary of State Clinton, and received assurances from her that we would work cooperatively to address these problems and expand our cooperation and our trading relations.

    I know my colleague, Minister of International Trade has put forward a vigorous campaign to be able to do so and to be able to fight against the rising tide of protectionism.