Business Opportunities For Canada in the United States:

Fluid Concepts has produced office furniture for MGM Studios, H & R Block and Variety magazine, among other US customers. The US In fact, while the designer and manufacturer of the work area may be based in Oakville, Ontario, approximately 60% of their sales are made on the other side of the border. Therefore, the results of the elections in the United States have caused some anxiety to Byron Leclair, the president of the firm.


President-elect Donald Trump plans to renegotiate or "break" the North American Free Trade Agreement and scrap the Transpacific Partnership, which would have further reduced trade barriers. Despite the threatening rhetoric, Leclair is not exaggerating yet, opting to maintain a wait and see position. "It's a speculation at this point, as it always is," he says. "Right now we are focused on maintaining contact with our US customers and letting them know that we value our relationship."
That is the best course of action for any Canadian businessman at this time, says Colin Robertson, a former diplomat and vice president of the Canadian Institute of Global Affairs. "Canadian companies should remind their American counterparts that this relationship is working for both parties," he says. "Similarly, in Congress, there are Democrats and Republicans who see the value of strengthening trade relations with Canada because it serves the prosperity of the United States."
The Canadian trade association of manufacturers and exporters based in Ottawa has advised its more than 10,000 members to avoid any drastic business decisions based on hunches. Senior Vice President Mathew Wilson has faith in the unparalleled relationship between Canada and United States. "We do not just import and export with the United States of America, we build things together," he says, adding that now is as good a time as any. Start thinking about the diversification of trade.
Leaving aside what could or could not happen, there are still some promising export opportunities between the two nations. Energy exports, specifically crude, experienced a year of flat growth due to Alberta's wildfires but will see an increase of 12% next year as demand reaches the supply, according to Export Development Canada (EDC). Consumer goods, a star performer this year thanks to a weaker and more robust US dollar, will continue to grow next year, albeit moderately, in areas such as appliances, clothing, and jewelry.
An industry with an unstable but still promising perspective is forestry. About 70% of softwood exports are destined for the United States and 2017 could raise US taxes on Canadian lumber, increasing costs for local producers. However, the housing market in the US That he is recovering provides some optimism; The demand for construction materials such as wood and wood panels is expected to remain strong.
"One thing that Canada has to offer to the US is proximity," says Robert Pelletier, EDC's principal representative in the US. "If you think about transportation costs or just-in-time inventories, we certainly have an advantage. That will not go away despite the changes in politics. "
Local companies also have one more advantage in their arsenal: the Canadian brand. Says Pelletier: "Companies really like to work with Canadian companies because the country is known for its reliability and quality."