U.S. Trade Council established as Manitoba braces for Trump tariffs
Posted January 24, 2025 1:16 pm.
Last Updated January 24, 2025 1:17 pm.
Premier Wab Kinew has assembled his A-Team when it comes to the province’s dealing with the administration of President Donald Trump.
On Friday, the provincial government announced it had created a U.S. Trade Council that will guide and support the province as it braces for the U.S. tariffs promised by President Trump.
“Our government has been preparing for a Trump administration since day one,” said Kinew in a news release.
“It’s why we brought former premier Gary Doer to advise on U.S. trade and we will stand up a Manitoba trade office in Washington this spring. We are continuing to make the case to our American counterparts that trade with Manitoba creates good jobs on both sides of the border. Premiers across Canada are united on that front.”
The council is made up of 16 representatives from a range of industries and sectors in Manitoba and is complementary to the establishment of the Manitoba Trade Office in Washington, referred to as a “direct line to government.”
NEW MEMBERS OF THE U.S. TRADE COUNCIL
- Bea Bruske, president, Canadian Labour Congress;
- Kurt Buehler, group president, MacDon Industries and Linamar Agriculture;
- Chuck Davidson, president and CEO, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce;
- Stacy Kennedy, director of operations, Vale, and president, Mining Association of Manitoba;
- Ryan Kuffner, president and CEO, Economic Development Winnipeg;
- Andrea Ladouceur, president, Bioscience Association of Manitoba;
- Ash Modha, founder and CEO, Mondetta Clothing;
- Gerry Price, chair and CEO, Price Industries;
- Mike Pulak, area co-ordinator, United Steelworkers (USW) Manitoba;
- Mike Pyle, CEO, Exchange Income Corporation;
- Kevin Rebeck, president, Manitoba Federation of Labour;
- Loren Remillard, president and CEO, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce;
- Paul Soubry, president and CEO, NFI Group Inc.;
- Bram Strain, president and CEO, Business Council of Manitoba;
- Jill Verwey, president, Keystone Agricultural Producers; and
- Gustavo Zentner, president, International Point of Commerce (InterPOC); vice-president, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).
