A text by Mathieu Gohier
Quebec has absolutely no interest in seeing a “Buy American” bill passed by its neighbor. In the United States, New York’s companies export the most to New York State. “The Empire State” is Quebec’s second largest trading partner, among the 50 states, with trade valued at $ 8 billion in 2014, according to the Ministry of the Economy.
Interviewed on the show Behind the scenes of power, Minister Dominique Anglade confirms that Quebec is trying to counter Governor Cuomo’s protectionist desire. If contacts have taken place with his administration, Quebec’s best allies would be found especially among business people in New York, estimates the Minister of the Economy.
“It’s important to build relationships with allies so that the people of New York – the business people – say how bad it is for them to have this ‘Buy’ either. American Act “because they have interests in Canada and they want them to be maintained,” says Ms. Anglade.
A message that resonates across the border. In a press briefing on Friday, at the end of an afternoon of discussions between the government of Quebec, the Montreal Chamber of Commerce and union representatives, Maryscott Greenwood, senior advisor to the Canadian American Business Council, stressed the importance of free trade with Canada for American entrepreneurs.
“It’s the biggest economic relationship in the history of the world. Millions of American jobs depend on it, ”she explains.
