CODEL BOEHNER HEARS THE CANADIAN SIDE ON BUY AMERICA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VANCOUVER 000205 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAN STATE PASS TO USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON CA ETRD OVIP SUBJECT: CODEL BOEHNER HEARS THE CANADIAN SIDE ON BUY AMERICA REF: OTTAWA 440 VANCOUVER 00000205 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: A Congressional Delegation (Codel) headed by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) met with Canadian business, municipal and provincial representatives to discuss the impact of ARRA Buy America provisions on cross-border trade. The Codel heard first-hand accounts of how Buy American erodes integrated supply chains, with loss of business to Canadian companies and their U.S. suppliers. Canadian presenters expressed concern over a broadening of Buy America sentiment, with similar regulations creeping into other legislation and the attitude spreading into the general American market place. They warned of a brewing trade war as Canadian unions and municipalities pressure their own government to implement Buy Canada regulations. And they urged quick action to halt the spread of protectionism, pointing out that while other regions, such as Europe and Asia, are using integration to become more powerful in the market place, North America is going in the opposite direction and poised to lose its competitive edge. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Representatives from the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association (CME),the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER),the city of Surrey and the BC Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, met with Codel Boehner on August 12 to discuss Canadian concerns over Buy America legislation. Jayson Myers, President and CEO of CME, told the Codel that supply chains between Canadian and U.S. companies were so integrated that any loss of business by Canadian companies had immediate repercussions on U.S. suppliers. Currently the U.S. has a trade surplus with Canada, but the potential for lost business from Buy America will lead to Canadian companies cutting back on U.S. inputs, both parts and raw materials, affecting the trade balance. ¶3. (U) CME members at the meeting gave first-hand accounts of negative impacts already felt because of Buy America. Company representatives noted that even if the rules don't apply, the provisions are so confusing Canadian companies are suffering loss of business as "Buy America" attitudes spread into all sectors. They expressed concern about expansion of the provisions into other legislation, such as the Water Quality Investment Act and the Green Schools Act. Members from the water management sector relayed how U.S. municipal contracts, once the mainstay of their business, had all but dried up. One producer, who buys gear boxes from Wisconsin and motors made in Georgia, is facing substantial cuts in these procurements because he no longer has the contracts to support purchasing inputs in the U.S. ¶4. (U) Another fear is an escalating trade dispute, as Canadian municipalities and labor unions make louder and louder calls for reciprocal trade practices. A CME member relayed how one of his key pipe suppliers from the U.S., who had been doing a booming business in Canada where the current market is more robust, has seen a dramatic decrease in orders as Canadian municipalities begin buying Canada only. Dianne Watts, Mayor of the border town of Surrey, south of Vancouver, warned that the Canadian Federation of Municipalities (CFM) already had adopted a "Buy Canada" resolution and as the situation now stands, the CFM resolution is likely to be formally endorsed at leadership meetings in the fall (ref). ¶5. (U) PNWER Executive Director Matt Morrison provided the Codel with four recommendations developed by the organization that they believed could be adopted by OMB as part of its ARRA implementing regulations that could mitigate the negative impact of the legislation: a. final Section 1605 rules should require state and municipal governments to follow the same international procurement agreements to which the federal government is party; b. support a definition of 'manufactured good' and 'component' that reflects how integrated global supply chains create U.S. jobs, as many U.S. corporations have final production facilities abroad that use mostly US inputs, and domestic manufacturers often employ thousands in the final production facilities, but use some foreign inputs; c. OMB should provide waivers to projects if only one domestic producer exists for a specific implement, as monopolies threaten to balloon project costs, limiting the reach and effectiveness of ARRA projects; and, VANCOUVER 00000205 002.2 OF 002 d. encourage a Section 1605 administrative process that quickly funds ARRA projects. The 'Buy America' rules should be simple and clear, applying equally to federal, state, and local governments. Recovery projects will benefit if project contractors can source the same materials across various jurisdictions. OMB should also publicize current exemptions and waivers where products and components are not covered by the Buy America requirement. Morrison also highlighted that public and private sector entities in Canada and the U.S. have already expressed concern over Buy America's impact on mega-projects in development, such as the Alaska natural gas pipeline, with companies and state and provincial parties worried about severe monetary and regulatory costs. ¶6. (SBU) Robert Musgrave from the BC Ministry of Small Business informed the group that the GOC was preparing a proposal for the USG, which would request an exemption for Canada on Buy America in exchange for multiple guarantees on the Canadian side. Musgrave stated that the BC provincial government contributed to the proposal guarantees of open markets for all provincial procurement, including BC crown corporations. Although he gave no details, he indicated that other provinces were following suit with similar offers. Jock Finlayson from the BC Business Council pointed out to the Codel that they should not forget capital investment. He noted that four million jobs in the U.S. depend on capital investment from Canadian companies and any protectionist measures could have a significant impact on the capital flowing across the border. ¶7. (U) Several Codel members remarked that they support free trade but it is difficult to argue for free trade when so many companies are closing and moving operations to lower-wage countries such as Mexico and China. The members added that many employees in the U.S. do not realize their jobs are created by trade and therefore vulnerable to trade wars. They encouraged companies to educate their employees on the positive benefits of trade. Congressman Boehner told the group that despite our differences over this issue, the U.S. and Canada should continue to work on strengthening their relationship. He noted that he represents a significant agricultural constituency and farmers in particular really understand the benefits of free and fair trade. He added that trade is not a zero sum game, but should be beneficial to both sides. ¶8. (U) Codel Boehner cleared on this cable. HILL