U.S. Consul General Anne Callaghan is in Prince George meeting with local leaders in industry, education and local government.
Callaghan is the senior U.S. diplomat in B.C. and her trip to Prince George is her first office trip out of Vancouver since taking the post in August. On Monday Callaghan met with officials from Initiatives Prince George and spoke at a luncheon hosted by the economic development agency.
"Canada is our most important partner," Callaghan said. "We have the largest trading relationship between any two countries in the world."
With trade and international investment, there is a total of $1 trillion per year in cross-border economic activity between Canada and the U.S., she said - including $15.3 billion between B.C. and the U.S.
There are challenges and disagreements between the two countries, Callaghan said, but Canada and the U.S. have a strong history of finding ways to resolve those issues.
One of those irritants is a review being conducted by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission regarding, complaints by Washington state senators that Canada unfairly subsidizes its ports - drawing trade away from U.S. ports like Seattle. If the U.S. were to impose trade barriers on goods imported through Canadian ports, it could have an impact on the flow of goods coming through Prince Rupert and
Vancouver.
"No one from the Federal Maritime Commission or federal government is contemplating any form of duty, tariff or tax," Callaghan said.
On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama signed a free trade agreement which cancels an exemption for Canadians, Mexicans and residents of the Caribbean on the passenger inspection levy charged by U.S. airports and ports. Canceling the exemption means Canadians traveling by air or sea to the U.S. will now need to pay the $5.50 per person levy.
Given the current economics in the U.S., this change is likely to stay, she said.
