Awards: Premier Dennis King and Team PEI on the way to the United States

A delegation of politicians and business people from Prince Edward Island who want Canada to escape the customs tariffs promised by Donald Trump left for the United States on Sunday.

The Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Dennis King is at the head of this Team Î.-P.-É. composed of four of its ministers and 17 business figures representing the main commercial sectors of the island: agriculture, fishing and tourism.

During this five-day trip to the northeastern United States, they plan to meet in person with business leaders, chambers of commerce as well as senators and governors.

The Canadian mission wants to address the future of Canadian-American economic relations and strengthen existing partnerships.

Ultimately, she hopes that American elected officials and business people will convey the province’s message to the future president.

Approximately 80% of products exported from Prince Edward Island are to the United States. Their estimated value is approximately $1.8 billion.

The Prime Minister King said that rates like those promised Donald Trump would have a devastating impact for the economy of his province. He envisages losses of the order of hundreds of millions the dollars.

We seek positive exchanges with everyone who does business with us across the border. We want to speak to as many consumers as possible, so they know that trade with Canada is a very important driver of job creation in the United Statessaid the Prime Minister.

A quarter of a million for the trip

The trip will cost approximately $250,000 in public funds, according to Dennis King. He says it is responsible spending, a very, very important investment.

He maintains that safeguarding these economic ties with the United States is a guarantee investments we need to make in housing, health, education and social programs.

Having left by bus on Sunday, the group was going to spend the night at Bangorin the Maine. On Monday, they will be in this state as well as that of New Hampshire. They will then continue their journey towards Boston, Massachusetts.

The mission is applauded by Frédéric Gionet, senior policy analyst, Atlantic Canada, at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (FCEI).

All provinces currently do this. We see Ontario with a blitz in the American media. Alberta is currently having negotiations with their American partners regarding energyhe emphasizes in an interview.

And I am sure that the other provinces are having the same types of discussions with their partners [américains]he said.

The federation puts forward the idea that these discussions clarify the position of Canadians, and give them more weight at the negotiating table with the Americans.

Based on the report by Allie Chouinard and with information from Connor Lamont et Shane Rossof CBC