Canada as a whole is highly dependent on trade with the United States, but the total value of cross-border trade by province is significantly different. Ontario, for example is highly integrated with U.S. markets; Saskatchewan, on the other hand, is relatively diversified on trade.
That’s not to say that the U.S. isn’t an important destination for Saskatchewan’s products, says Warren Kaeding, minister of trade and export development for the province; however, Saskatchewan is the least dependent on the U.S. market.
Kaeding sat down with RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney just ahead of a trade-focussed tour to Vietnam and Singapore. He says he’ll be focused on selling Saskatchewan to these and other important importers of Canadian products.
The focus of this trade mission is overseas, but Kaeding is keeping a close eye on what is happening here at home. When it comes to the tariff talk between Canada and the U.S., Saskatchewan’s potash resources have come up as one of the key products that may be subject to counter-tariffs in this trade war.
“Tariffs or counter-tariffs …are not going to help. They don’t benefit anyone, they just increase the costs on both sideas,” Kaeding says. “Ultimately, it’s consumers that are going to lose on both sides of the border.”
When it comes to inter-provincial trade, Kaeding says he supports streamlining approvals and regulations to “enhance the free-flow of goods between provinces.”
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