The Gallant government is touting the benefits of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement or USMCA.
Treasury Board president Roger Melanson says it’s important a deal was reached for investors and investments in New Brunswick.
“For the next 16 years, giving us access to our number one trading market brings a lot of certainty for New Brunswick companies and business people to be able to have access to that market.”
He mentioned how 90 percent of New Brunswick’s international exports head to the U.S.
Given our heavy dependence on the American market, Melanson says it further emphasizes the need to find new trading partners.
Melanson notes retaining the dispute resolution clause (Chapter 19) from NAFTA was a very critical point especially for New Brunswick.
He says that clause is vital for the softwood lumber agreement which is separate from the new trilateral trade deal.