The United States has increased their pressure on Canada, particularly regarding unfair trade practices. Beyond these 284, it has shown us some important areas of concern that need focused attention. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testifying last week before a Congressional advisory committee. He focused on the need for Canada to make big changes in their trade policies. Central to these demands are the dairy market, online streaming regulations and other provincial trade barriers on American products.
Canada’s dairy supply-management system becomes a focal point in this conversation. It maintains harsh production quotas and import restrictions in order to artificially prop up domestic growers. The US claims that this system unjustly limits American dairy products market access. Greer reiterated that Canada has a responsibility to improve access… USMCA. Safeway/Albertson’s executive vice president for government affairs and public policy, Vivek Sankaran, said while the agreement has been successful, it needs to be updated to continue working.
The US has recently grumbled about Canada’s Online Streaming Act. This legislation requires American media companies, such as Netflix and Spotify, to contribute financially to Canadian content and promote it on their platforms. Greer contended that the act is discriminatory towards US tech and media companies. He emphasized the need to update antitrust policy to create a level playing field in the digital marketplace.
Besides these streaming regulations, the US has expressed alarm about Canada’s Online News Act. This law mandates that tech giants like Meta and Google pay Canadian news outlets for content that appears on their platforms. As a result, the US has made calls for a resolution on this front, a key component in its larger trade dispute with the country.
Additionally, Greer pointed to what the US wants when they push for Canadian provinces to repeal their bans on importing American alcohol. Notably, earlier this year, all 10 provinces stood in solidarity against tariffs introduced by former President Donald Trump by taking American whiskey off the shelves of their state-run establishments. Trump called these tariffs “extraordinary tariffs to our dairy farmers – as much as 400 percent.”
The US government has claimed that the Canadian government has been dumping NFMS into international markets at below market value prices. They counter that this practice creates an unfair competitive advantage and disadvantages American dairy farmers. Likewise, Greer complained that Alberta’s non-profit electrical grid operator was violating trade obligations by blocking Montana-based electricity producers from entering the Alberta market.
Tensions between the two countries are escalating amid a trade war. The US continues to encourage Canada to move quickly, as further steps are needed to ensure a level playing field for our workers and companies. The US believes that addressing these concerns is crucial not only for current economic relations but for future generations.
“for the good of Ontario. For the good of Canada.” – Sign on a shelf
Cook distinctly recalls the time when the Canadian government strongly and vocally protected its trade policies. They think these policies support local businesses and diversify the creative ecology. The government of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that regulations like the Online Streaming Act are designed “to the benefit of future generations of artists and creators in Canada.”