Canada to Spotlight Strong US Trade Ties in Meeting With Bessett
By Promit Mukherjee
BANFF, Alberta — On Wednesday, Canada’s Finance Minister stated that they would emphasize the nation’s significant trade ties with the United States during discussions with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later that day.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is set to have a one-on-one meeting with Bessent during the margins of the G7 finance ministers gathering in Banff, Alberta.
The encounter between them is considered one of the main bilateral conversations at the G7 summit and follows an earlier meeting this month where U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided to initiate substantial negotiations for establishing a fresh partnership.
“A great deal needs discussion between Canada and the United States,” Champagne stated.
“Canada is the biggest buyer of goods from the United States. Our imports from the U.S. exceed those from China, Japan, the UK, and France put together. This demonstrates how closely intertwined our trade relations are,” he stated.
Champagne, who chairs the G7 finance leaders this year, mentioned that the conversations held within the group so far have been productive.
We have managed to work together effectively enough to enable the G7 to move forward, which is positive,” he stated, noting that his one-on-one meeting with the EU leadership was “highly productive.
He urged the G7 to work together and said the issues of non-market practices by China, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and reconstruction of Ukraine are important topics he would be discussing as the G7 chair.
“The clear takeaway for me from this G7 is that we are stronger when united,” he stated.
(This story has been updated to indicate Wednesday instead of Friday in paragraph one.)
(Reported by Promit Mukherjee; edited by David Lawder and Chris Reese)