Premier Wab Kinew, along with Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses, travelled to North Dakota to meet with newly sworn-in Gov. Kelly Armstrong to discuss trade and economic opportunities.
“A key to growing our economy is to reinforce our close relationship with American states and the mutual benefit both our countries enjoy when we have a free and strong trade partnership,” said Kinew. “We met with Gov. Armstrong to congratulate him on his new role, to communicate our commitment to border security and cracking down on drug trafficking, and to impress upon him how his constituents benefit from a partnership with Manitoba – cross-border shopping and good jobs.”
Discussions included the important role provinces and territories have in strengthening and protecting the Canada-U.S. relationship including agriculture, tourism, the addictions crisis and taking action at a local level on border security, noted Kinew.
North Dakota and Manitoba have had a historic relationship, working together to promote agricultural connections, trade partnerships, energy supply, tourism and business opportunities. Two-way trade between the province and state total more than $1.6 billion annually and supports 5,700 North Dakota jobs, making it one of the closest trade partnerships in the U.S. and one of Manitoba’s most important export destinations, added the premier.
“Manitoba is an essential partner to North Dakota when it comes to cross border trade, with safe and secure access to critical minerals, reliable energy exports, shortened supply chains and assistance in times of emergencies,” said Moses. “Our government is ready and actively doing our part to maintain and grow a close relationship with the U.S. so that we can protect Manitoba jobs and grow our economy.”
Kinew noted he and Armstong first met while the governor was a congressman during a Manitoba trade mission to Washington, D.C. last spring. Armstrong previously chaired the Republican party of North Dakota, helping elect president-elect Donald Trump, and received an endorsement from Trump in his gubernatorial campaign.
