Canada’s ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton, is perhaps his country’s most important envoy on the world stage. In a time that is critical to the economic growth of both countries, MacNaughton’s political and business-savvy expertise bodes well as the chief voice for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Washington, D.C. The Detroiter recently interviewed MacNaughton, who will attend the 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference, on how the prime minister and his administration are  working to protect and grow businesses and jobs on both sides of the border, particularly in Michigan — Canada’s top trade partner — and the implications for Michigan and Canada under a revised North American Free Trade Agreement.

By one straightforward measurement, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been an unequivocal success. The threeparty deal between the United States, Canada and Mexico — which removed tariffs on most cross-border commerce and aimed to create a continental trading bloc capable of competing with the European Union — has led to increased trade. Since its inception in 1994, goods sold across NAFTA borders have tripled, to the tune of more than $1 trillion annually.

With thousands of American companies facing potential economic impacts if the United States renegotiates or withdraws from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is aggressively working to get them involved in speaking out on behalf of the trade deal.

Renegotiating a 2,000-page trade deal that has been in effect for 24 years and substantially transformed the economies of each participating country is no small undertaking. It should come as little surprise that the pace of progress through seven rounds of talks on a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, Mexico and the United States has been glacial.

President Trump made renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a key objective of his administration. While the automotive industry generally supports updating the 24-year-old agreement, the risk of a U.S. withdrawal remains genuine and tinkering with its fine print could unravel a global supply chain built on the untaxed movement of goods and services across borders.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is far from taking shape over the Detroit River, but the long awaited, multi billion-dollar project is getting off the ground on both sides of the border. On the Ontario shore, more than 1 million tons of fill dirt have been spread on a 130 acre site to raise the low-lying area, the Canadian port of entry. Prefabricated drains have been installed and a perimeter road was built to accommodate local businesses during construction.

Competing for talent and global companies requires thoughtful investment in roads, bridges and waterways By: Eric Lupher Few things are as core to government as infrastructure. State and local governments provide the roads we drive on, the water and sewer …