Ontario’s trade minister to defend auto industry on trip to Washington

Ontario’s trade minister will travel to Washington this week to defend the province’s auto industry at a U.S. Department of Commerce hearing.

Jim Wilson said he will be speaking Thursday at the public hearing to investigate national security issues around imports of automobiles and automotive parts.

Wilson said he planned to stress the economic benefits of working with Ontario’s auto sector.

“It is clear that Ontario is not a national security risk to the United States,” he said. “The U.S. and Ontario share many of the same goals _ together, we can advance our shared priorities of creating jobs on both sides of the border by developing strong, competitive business environments that spur innovation and growth.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has slapped duties on U.S. steel and aluminum imports from Canada and other allies and threatened similar duties on Canadian-made cars and parts.

Wilson called for balanced and fair trade between the two countries, adding that Canada and the U.S. have an integrated supply chain that benefits both.