Nova Scotia signs national trade deal to remove trade barriers

Nova Scotia has signed a national deal to knock down trade barriers.

Nova Scotia has signed a trade agreement to help bring down trade barriers across Canada.

The Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement was signed by all provinces, territories and the federal government at a meeting in Yellowknife on Wednesday.

It will allow most goods that are lawfully sold in one jurisdiction to be lawfully sold in other provinces or territories without additional requirements.

It applies to the sale of goods, trucking and financial services, though it excludes food, live animals, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and plants.

“If it works in Saskatchewan and it’s good for Saskatchewan, then it should be good for Nova Scotia,” said Tim Halman, efficiency minister for Nova Scotia.

The Government of Nova Scotia says the agreement will strengthen the local economy and expand market access for local businesses.

“This is an important next step in Nova Scotia’s tireless efforts to remove interprovincial trade barriers that have held our local economies back for too long,” said Finance and Treasury Board Minister John Lohr, who represented the province at the meeting.

“We believe in free trade nationwide, and these agreements show a commitment to remove barriers that have been in place since Confederation. It will take time to fully implement these changes, but we’re committed to getting the work done and making exceptions only if necessary.”

Removing internal trade barriers could grow the country’s economy by as much as $200 billion annually, or about $5,100 per person, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

The organization says it applauds the signing of the agreement, saying it’s a landmark achievement that will finally start breaking down costly internal trade barriers.

“The next phase should include expanding the mutual recognition agreement to services, food products, and alcohol, which still face significant internal trade barriers,” it said in a statement.

The trucking industry is onboard with the deal as well.

“The interprovincial trade barriers that we have around transportation alone probably add 10-plus per cent to the costs of goods that we are trying to move across the country,” said Bruce Bowser, chairman of AMJ Campbell Trucking.

More locally, interprovincial exports contribute about 17 per cent of Nova Scotia’s GDP and make up about half of its exports, according to the province.

The agreement will take effect next month.

-With files from The Canadian Press and CTV News Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas

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