Canadian Chamber, U.S. Chamber call on their governments to keep markets open
to trade and investment

OTTAWA , Sept. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Just days before the meeting between Prime Minister Harper and President Obama in Washington, the Canadian and U.S. Chambers of Commerce sent a joint letter urging the two leaders to address major economic issues: a trade-efficient border, 'Buy American' provisions, North American energy security, protecting intellectual property rights and regulatory cooperation. The letter can be viewed at www.chamber.ca.

The letter, signed by Canadian Chamber President and CEO Perrin Beatty and U.S. Chamber President Tom Donahue , states: "In the current recession it is especially important that the United States and Canada work together to strengthen our economies and create jobs."

"'Buy American' provisions in the U.S. stimulus package mean billions of dollars of state and municipal-level public procurement projects are slowed down and many are off limits to Canadian producers as well as U.S. firms that source globally. Other bills pending in Congress contain similar 'Buy American' provisions that, if enacted into law, would further exacerbate the problem. Canadian municipalities are threatening to retaliate, which could create a tit-for-tat trade war between our two integrated economies."

The letter also highlights the need to implement the recommendations from the joint Canadian and U.S. Chamber report on the border to make it more secure and trade-efficient, a call on both countries to put in place a joint Canadian-U.S. energy vision and cooperate on environmental matters, end the tyranny of small differences in our regulatory regimes through cooperation and more mutual recognition and to strengthen our intellectual property regimes.

Also, today in Ottawa , the Canadian and U.S. Chamber are partnering to present to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Canada-U.S. border, and will reinforce many of the issues discussed in the joint letter.

For further information: Kathryn Anderson, Director, Communications and Marketing, Office: [phone] ext.231, Cell: [phone], [email protected]