Action Continues on Reducing Interprovincial Trade Barriers

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for internal trade met for a working session on interprovincial trade issues today, May 29 during the annual meeting of the Committee on Internal Trade in Halifax.

Nova Scotia Trade Minister Geoff MacLellan is chair of the Committee on Internal Trade for 2019.

The committee focused on the actions taken to advance the objective of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the liberalization of trade, investment and labour mobility across Canada.

Discussions included financial services, alcoholic beverages, and progress on reducing regulatory barriers to interprovincial trade.

Throughout 2019, the province is also chair of the Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table. The table is a new forum created by the Canadian Free Trade Agreement to identify and eliminate regulatory differences, a primary source of trade, investment and labour mobility issues across Canada.

“Together with our federal, provincial and territorial partners, we are taking concrete action to reduce barriers to interprovincial trade to help create conditions for more jobs and a stronger economy,” said Mr. MacLellan.

“Our work continues to focus on building an open domestic market for the benefit of Canadian businesses, consumers and communities. While this work is complex, we are producing results.”

Internal trade and a progress report from the meeting will be discussed by Canada’s premiers at the next Council of Federation in July.