Resolution by Canadian Municipalities Targets U.S. Water and Wastewater Equipment Industry
Resolution by Canadian Municipalities Targets U.S. Water and Wastewater Equipment Industry
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – The Federation of Canadian Municipalities passed a
resolution this past weekend giving the United States government
120 days to broker a fair trade deal or face the consequences of
U.S. companies being restricted from
bidding on Canadian infrastructure projects. The resolution adopted by the
Federation, representing over 90 percent of Canadian cities and townships,
expressed support for procurement policies which favor free and fair trade,
particularly for water and wastewater projects, by ensuring that goods and
materials are procured “only from companies whose countries of origin do not
impose trade restrictions against goods and materials manufactured in
Canada.”
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David
Angelo, Chairman of the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association
(WWEMA), had previously sent a letter to Congress and the White House warning of
the risks associated with employing protectionist measures in the stimulus bill,
noting that such measures “will ultimately serve to undermine our economy as it
will demand retaliation by our largest trading partners.” In 2008, the
United States exported $6.18
billion in water and wastewater equipment and piping to Canada.
“The billions we stand to lose in trade with Canada, and potentially other trading partners
as they begin employing similar measures, will detrimentally impact our industry
and the U.S. economy, with job losses being
an unintended consequence of the Buy American movement,” Angelo warned.
“We call upon our federal government to take appropriate measures to allow U.S.
municipalities to have the same rights and privileges as their federal
counterparts to continue doing business with our nation’s international trade
partners and enable U.S. suppliers to continue working through their traditional
supplier chains to give our communities the best, most cost-effective technology
to meet their critical infrastructure needs,” he said.
WWEMA
is a 101-year old national, non-profit trade organization representing North
American producers and suppliers of technologies used in municipal and
industrial water and wastewater applications.
June 24, 2009
Resolution by Canadian Municipalities Targets U.S. Water and Wastewater Equipment Industry
Resolution by Canadian Municipalities Targets U.S. Water and Wastewater Equipment Industry
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – The Federation of Canadian Municipalities passed a
resolution this past weekend giving the United States government
120 days to broker a fair trade deal or face the consequences of
U.S. companies being restricted from
bidding on Canadian infrastructure projects. The resolution adopted by the
Federation, representing over 90 percent of Canadian cities and townships,
expressed support for procurement policies which favor free and fair trade,
particularly for water and wastewater projects, by ensuring that goods and
materials are procured “only from companies whose countries of origin do not
impose trade restrictions against goods and materials manufactured in
Canada.”
David
Angelo, Chairman of the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association
(WWEMA), had previously sent a letter to Congress and the White House warning of
the risks associated with employing protectionist measures in the stimulus bill,
noting that such measures “will ultimately serve to undermine our economy as it
will demand retaliation by our largest trading partners.” In 2008, the
United States exported $6.18
billion in water and wastewater equipment and piping to Canada.
“The billions we stand to lose in trade with Canada, and potentially other trading partners
as they begin employing similar measures, will detrimentally impact our industry
and the U.S. economy, with job losses being
an unintended consequence of the Buy American movement,” Angelo warned.
“We call upon our federal government to take appropriate measures to allow U.S.
municipalities to have the same rights and privileges as their federal
counterparts to continue doing business with our nation’s international trade
partners and enable U.S. suppliers to continue working through their traditional
supplier chains to give our communities the best, most cost-effective technology
to meet their critical infrastructure needs,” he said.
WWEMA
is a 101-year old national, non-profit trade organization representing North
American producers and suppliers of technologies used in municipal and
industrial water and wastewater applications.