Eichler addressed trade resolutions last week in Winnipeg
By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Ralph Eichler, Manitoba’s agriculture minister, is optimistic that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations will progress with the United States, benefitting the three participating countries.
At the 2018 Manitoba Swine Seminar in Winnipeg last week, Eichler discussed several issues affecting the industry – including trade, according to a Farmscape article today.
Negotiators have made significant progress in reaching an agreement, the article reported. Also, Eichler has observed some American support for Canada’s position on NAFTA.
“We know that the United States has had a number of folks come and support Canada. They understand and know well that Canada is important to have in the U.S. economy,” Eichler said in the article.
“The Senate has been very supportive, as well as the House of Representatives has been very supportive of making sure we have an agreement now and going forward that’s respectful and has benefits for trade for both countries.”
American farmers and the US Department of Agriculture have shown strong support for NAFTA. If the agreement goes south in any way, agriculture will not be the cause, Eichler said.
Two more rounds of negotiations have been announced to allow for further discussion on several proposals put on the table in Montreal a few weeks ago, according to a Global News article. But no meeting dates have been confirmed yet.