Canada Asks for Talks on ‘Buy American’ Issue

(Journal of Commerce Online – Alan M. Field)

Canadian trade officials would like to discuss with U.S. counterparts an agreement that would enable U.S. and Canadian companies to have reciprocal access to local and municipal government procurement contracts.

Canadian Trade Minister Stockwell Day asked U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk today to “explore” such a deal, which would permit Canadian suppliers to continue to bid for U.S. local and municipal governments, despite “Buy American” provisions in the current U.S. economic stimulus plan. The two countries already have an agreement governing reciprocal access to government contracts on a federal level.

Although the idea has been widely discussed, this is the first time that the Canadian government has brought the idea directly to the Obama administration. Read more here.