Latest news with #tradebarriers
National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
Quebec says it 'is open to interprovincial trade' after tabling new bill
OTTAWA – Quebec is joining the Canadian internal trade party. One of the most regulated provinces in the country has introduced 'the most ambitious bill in Canada' aimed at removing its trade barriers. Article content Article content 'We are sending a signal that Quebec is open to interprovincial trade,' said Christopher Skeete, Quebec's minister delegate for the economy. 'We must accept to open our market.' Article content Article content Quebec is yet another Canadian province to remove such barriers, along with Nova Scotia, Ontario and New Brunswick. Nova Scotia was the first province to pass a new law encouraging reciprocity between provinces and territories earlier this year. Article content Article content 'For me, reciprocity is not the answer. Our solution has been to open for everybody regardless, and we believe if everybody does that, we each achieve the same goal,' Skeete said in an interview with National Post. Article content With Prime Minister Mark Carney scheduled to meet with his provincial counterparts in the coming days, Quebec announced it wants to open its market to other provinces by allowing any of their products to be marketed, used or consumed without any other requirement. Article content The idea is to facilitate trade in goods by adopting the principle of automatic recognition applicable to all Canadian products. Exceptions will be announced later, but alcohol is not among them. Though, it will be treated 'separately' due to its specific characteristics. Article content Article content 'If it's good for somebody in Ontario, it should be good for Quebecers, unless we have a reason to say otherwise,' Skeete said. The reasons may be related to the protection of human safety, health, or the environment, for example. The construction sector is not included because the Quebec Building Code and the sector are different from those in the rest of the country. Article content According to the government, 60 per cent of Quebec businesses have no activity in the Canadian market. However, since 2018, domestic trade has increased by 34 per cent to reach nearly $200 billion. Quebec businesses currently export goods and services worth $108 billion and import $96 billion. Article content 'In Quebec, we have our Civil Code… so it creates a little bit of a difference in the way that we write laws here, said Skeete. We had to do more work to make sure that we harmonize a little bit more with the rest of Canada.' Article content Skeete denied that Quebec is the most protectionist province in the country, nor the most regulated, even though it has the most trade exceptions. He admits that his province is 'unique' and 'different' from others.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec tables bill to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers on sale of goods
Quebec Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism Christopher Skeete tables a legislation at the legislature in Quebec City, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot QUÉBEC — Quebec is moving to lower interprovincial trade barriers, with some exceptions. Minister for the Economy Christopher Skeete has tabled a bill to remove all restrictions on the use and sale of products from other provinces. It also states that the government can exclude some goods from the bill and must publish a list of exceptions online. The proposed legislation comes amid a push by provinces and the federal government to lower interprovincial trade barriers in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The bill states that goods from other provinces and territories may be 'commercialized, used or consumed' in Quebec without further requirements relating to their manufacturing, composition or classification. The proposed legislation also aims to make it easier for workers who are certified in other provinces to have their credentials recognized in Quebec. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2024.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Poilievre says he'll support Carney's expected project-approval bill if it ‘gets things done quickly'
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party would have to look at a proposed Liberal bill that aims to fast-track major projects and remove trade barriers before backing it.
National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
GDP could grow by $70B if Quebec removes trade barriers: report
OTTAWA – The Quebec government could boost the Canadian economy by approximately $69.9 billion if it removes trade barriers with the rest of the country, a think tank in the province estimates. Article content Article content According to a new study by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), the signing of an agreement between Quebec and Ontario alone would increase Canada's GDP by approximately $32.2 billion. Article content 'Premier François Legault should follow Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston's approach and adopt mutual recognition laws with the rest of the country,' said Trevor Tombe, a professor of economics at the University of Calgary and senior fellow at the MEI. Article content Article content The province will accept, without testing or additional fees, any product approved for use in the other province, even if it does not meet local standards. The law also applies to licensed services and professionals. Article content Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have also joined the party, with measures to reciprocate Nova Scotia and increase trade. Article content 'It's one of the surest and lowest-cost ways for provincial governments to unleash Canadian productivity growth,' said Tombe. Article content So far, all these measures are leading the way to internal free trade zones with the potential to boost the country's economy substantially, according to MEI. Article content Article content For example, Ontario and Nova Scotia alone could boost the Canadian economy by nearly $4.1 billion. Article content However, all eyes are on Quebec's next move because of its numerous regulations. Article content The office of Quebec's Minister Delegate for the Economy Christopher Skeete told National Post that the government intends on introducing a bill 'very soon.' Article content 'We should welcome the provinces' willingness to reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Quebec is working on its own, and we welcome the bills from other provinces,' said the minister's spokesperson Léa Fortin in a text message. Article content In the past, Skeete has said that Quebec 'is ambitiously committed to improving the local business environment.' But when it comes to reciprocal measures with Nova Scotia and other provinces, it's not clear if the province is ready to make that step.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Asean's ambitious 2045 plan faces Trump tariffs and implementation woes
Members of the Asean bloc have laid out an ambitious plan to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2045, but analysts warn the region must first overcome deep-rooted trade barriers, domestic implementation woes and a shifting global trade order. Advertisement Released on Tuesday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, the five-year strategy to achieve the economic goal aims to boost regional integration and better address complex issues. 'Carrying on with business as usual will not suffice for this highly dynamic economic region,' the statement said. 'For Asean to become the fourth-largest global economy by 2045, countries in the region will need to deepen their economic integration and enhance their agility to address multifaceted challenges.' The plan's announcement, which called for increased energy security, transport security, and strengthened supply chains, came after the bloc finalised negotiations on an upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) on Monday. First implemented in 2010, ATIGA removed tariffs on 98.6 per cent of goods traded among member states. The upgraded version – expected to be signed in October – aims to further boost intra-Asean trade by eliminating remaining duties and removing non-tariff barriers, such as complex customs procedures and licensing rules. Advertisement ATIGA is one of three major agreements that form the foundation of the Asean free-trade area, which seeks to lower trade barriers and build a unified regional market.
