For 25 years, the Canadian American Business Council (CABC) has
supported efforts to update and improve infrastructure and spur
economic growth and job creation on both sides of the Canada/U.Voice fiber mux
Submit Shot: Real Estate Agent Orange dispersed from the States army or
marine during Vietnam BattleS. border. However, upon learning about
latest provisions announced to the Moving Ahead for Progress in the
21st Century Act ("MAP Act") in the U.S. Congress, the CABC yesterday
issued a letter to all conferees appointed to work out a compromise on
the bill calling for an exemption to protectionist provisions.
"The
proposed MAP Act includes provisions that represent a significant
departure from existing 'Buy America' preferences," the letter stated.
"Specifically, if at least one contract for a project receives any
federal funding under this act, then all contracts for a project,
regardless of their funding source, would be subject to Buy America
preferences."
Alluding to concerns about the 'Buy America'
provisions' applicability to Canada and their economic impacts on both
countries, the CABC is asking the Senate to consider amending the 'Buy
America' provision so that purchases of goods from Canada not be deemed
to violate this requirement.
The letter continues: "'Buy
America' provisions applied to Canadian companies will inhibit, not
create, economic growth in both the U.S. and Canada given the
integrated nature of our two countries' economies. To enhance our
countries' collective competitiveness, it is important to reduce
barriers to trade and investment and transition away from outdated 'Buy
America' provisions that fail to recognize the integration of our
economies."
The CABC is also drawing on support from business
leaders on both sides of the border. In March, the CABC issued a survey
that uncovered the top-of-mind issues in 2012 for business leaders in
the United States and Canada. Cited among the top three issues was
seeing Canada secure an exemption to Buy America provisions of
procurement legislation.