Gov. Josh Shapiro went north of the border this week to promote Pennsylvania and its economic partnership with Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Shapiro met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, leader of Canada\u2019s most populous province, before the two signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen economic relations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is a chance to honor and celebrate the enduring friendship between Pennsylvania and Ontario \u2026 We are America\u2019s closest allies and top customer for more than half the U.S.,\u201d Ford said Wednesday at a press conference in Toronto. \u201cWith this agreement, Ontario and Pennsylvania also recognize the vital importance of the Great Lakes economy and the need to protect this vital resource for future generations. We\u2019re going to keep working with great partners like Gov. Shapiro to support workers, make life more affordable and grow the economy on both sides of the border.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shapiro called out President Donald Trump for \u201creckless and disrespectful rhetoric\u201d related to Canada and for undermining the two countries\u2019 relationship, adding that the U.S. and Canada are both guided by \u201cshared values rooted in freedom and opportunity for all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that many Canadians, to many of them, the United States does not feel very welcoming right now,\u201d Shapiro said Wednesday. \u201cI respect Canadian sovereignty, period.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shapiro went on to say Pennsylvania\u2019s partnership with Canada should continue to be collaborative and mutually beneficial, as it has been.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s only 29 miles between the Port of Erie and Port Dover. There\u2019s not a lot of room between us, separating us, and there\u2019s an opportunity for us to strengthen our ties and come even closer together,\u201d Shapiro added Wednesday. \u201cThis MOU is going to deepen that relationship by doubling down on the areas where we see the biggest opportunity for mutual growth. That includes the five industries that we\u2019ve made central to our economic development strategy in Pennsylvania: energy, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, life sciences, and technology and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maple roots<\/p>\n
The U.S.\u2019s northern neighbor is Pennsylvania\u2019s largest international trading partner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shapiro said the commonwealth and Canada exchange a similar number of imports and exports. He noted that Pennsylvania imports about $13.5 billion in goods from Canada each year, with imports from Ontario accounting for nearly half of that total.\u00a0<\/p>\n