Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister was in Peggy’s Cove yesterday to talk trade.
Chrystia Freeland joined South Shore – St. Margarets MP Bernadette Jordan for a tour of Nautel Broadcast, which manufactures AM and FM transmitters for radio stations.
Their headquarters employs nearly 200 people, with some traveling from as far away as Liverpool to work.
They also have sites in the US and sell their products across the world – a fact that was highlighted when staff showed Freeland transmitters that were getting ready to be sent to South Korea.
Minister Freeland climbs inside an AM transmitter at Nautel. She was impressed by the craftsmanship and the fact that she could indeed fit inside of it. pic.twitter.com/1Uehm94hKB
— Brittany Wentzell (@BrittWentzell) November 22, 2018
Speaking to reporters after the tour, Freeland said the company is a good example of the benefits of Canada’s trade deals.
As well, she highlighted some of the exports in Southwestern Nova Scotia that are impacted by those trade deals.
“I know we are in an area where a lot of fantastic lobster is caught and that lobster, some of that is sold to the US and some of it is also sold to Europe.”
Freeland says since signing their agreement with the European Union there has been an increase in Canadian lobsters being sold overseas.
She also discussed headway being made in China, citing a recent visit by federal ministers.
“I would say there is tremendous enthusiasm on the Chinese side to be doing more business with Canada,” says Freeland. “This is a real opportunity.”
The provincial government also recently sent a delegation to China, including the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Freeland says Nova Scotian companies, in particular fisheries, will benefit from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement For Trans-Pacific Partnership.
When asked whether the Trump Administration’s more adversarial tone with China impacts Canada’s relations, Freeland said there are some points the US is making that they too keep in mind.
“Certainly there are some aspects the US has been highlighting like intellectual property where we think there are some points being made,”
she says, adding the Canadian government has made it clear that’s important to them as well.
She says the US is Canada’s biggest trading partner but China is their second biggest and that economic relationship is growing.
Story by Brittany Wentzell
Twitter: @BrittWentzell
Email: wentzell.brittany@radioabl.ca
