Pritzker will travel to Ottawa to discuss the U.S.-Canada trade and commercial relationship in meetings with government leaders
Will meet with Canadian and Mexican counterparts and business leaders in Toronto for annual North American Competitiveness and Innovation Conference
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will travel to Ottawa on October 30 for meetings with Canadian government leaders. In these meetings, Secretary Pritzker will reaffirm the close friendship and alliance between the United States and Canada, and discuss opportunities to strengthen our bilateral trade and commercial relationship.
Following her visit to Ottawa, Secretary Pritzker will travel to Toronto on October 31. There, Secretary Pritzker will join Ed Fast, Canadian Minister of International Trade, and Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexican Secretary of Economy, for the fourth North American Competitiveness and Innovation Conference (NACIC). The conference — organized by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the Canadian International Council in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Development Canada — will bring together senior government officials, business executives, and policy experts with the goal of further advancing North American economic cooperation and integration. Results from the NACIC feed directly into the North American Leaders’ Summit — an annual meeting of North America’s heads of government. Last year, Leaders highlighted broad-based, sustainable economic growth and job creation as priority areas for cooperation.
This is the second time Secretary Pritzker has met with the Canadian and Mexican cabinet secretaries responsible for international trade and commerce at the NACIC to focus attention on the promotion of regional strategies to enhance competitiveness and innovation, support economic development, and spur job creation in North America.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY:
In Ottawa: Media are invited to cover a luncheon speech hosted by AmCham on October 30 from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Chateau Laurier Hotel. Secretary Pritzker will take questions from the press. Please RSVP to Jennifer Young for additional information.
In Toronto: Media are invited to cover an armchair discussion between Secretary Pritzker, Minister Fast, and Minister Guajardo, which will take place at the NACIC on October 31 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Royal York Hotel. Immediately following the armchair discussion, the three will hold a press conference. Please RSVP to Madina Turdieva for additional information.
Trade Facts:
- The U.S.-Canada trade relationship is the largest, most dynamic, and most successful in the world. In 2013, the U.S. and Canada generated $736 billion in bilateral trade, which equals more than $2 billion in trade each day.
- The U.S. and Canada share the world’s longest international border, which leads to the daily interactions between our people and governments that comprise the core of our relationship. In fact, nearly 400,000 people cross our shared border each day.
- More than two-thirds of Canadian exports are destined for the United States.
- The U.S., Canada, and Mexico form the world’s most competitive regional economic platform. In 2013, U.S. trade with Mexico and Canada exceeded $1.3 trillion.
- North America represents 27% of global GDP, and 7% of the world’s population. Since NAFTA’s inception, the GDP of North America has doubled.
Media Contacts:
In Ottawa:
Jennifer Young
Media Assistant
U.S. Embassy Ottawa
Tel: 613-688-5315
Email: youngjm1@state.gov
In Toronto:
Madina Turdieva
Media Assistant
U.S. Consulate General Toronto
Tel: 416-595-1721
Email: TurdievaM@state.gov
