Canada has nothing to fear from U.S. protectionist rhetoric, envoy to Ottawa insists
By The Canadian Press on May 3, 2023.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. ambassador to Canada says his country’s largest trading partner has nothing to fear from the Biden administration’s Buy American rhetoric. David Cohen says he wants to end, once and for all, persistent concerns in Canada about protectionist sentiment south of the border. Cohen made the comments during a speech at the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute in Washington, D.C. He called Canada’s initial reaction to U.S.-specific incentives for electric vehicles a “hissy fit,” considering the country had no EV production at the time. After extensive Canadian lobbying, the final version of the tax credits contained in the Inflation Reduction Act carved in vehicles manufactured across North America. Cohen says there is no shortage of opportunities for Canadian businesses, citing the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the long-standing Defense Production Act. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2023. 8-7
