Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg recently participated in the North American Strategy for Competitiveness’ (NASCO) annual tri-national conference in Monterrey, Mexico to address issues and discuss solutions to the rapidly changing state of international business and its impact on global trade.
The theme of this year’s conference was Beyond Borders, Beyond Politics, and drew business, educational, and government leaders from throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
“Open and free trade is critically important for Winnipeg and Manitoba,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “It is essential that we continue to maintain strong trading relationships with the United States and Mexico, and I am certainly pleased that Councillor Wyatt will continue to represent Winnipeg as part of NASCO’s grassroot work to build and maintain important trading opportunities and partnerships.”
“Winnipeg is and always has been a trading city, with many small, medium and large manufacturing firms that rely on access to foreign markets, especially the United States and Mexico,” said Councillor Russ Wyatt, City Council’s representative to the North American Strategy for Competitiveness. “This means jobs and economic security for many families in our City and so our membership in the North America for Strategic Competitiveness (NASCO), has never been more important. We need to send a message to the leadership of the three federal governments that free trade is crucial to all of us in this competitive world, and we cannot allow domestic issues in one country to derail our common futures.”
“The theme of our conference this year, Beyond Borders, Beyond Politics, was intentional. NASCO, our members, and all of North America has so much potential at our fingertips. Beyond trade policy, the North American trading relationships and economic opportunities are played out at the grassroots level – with local governments, industry, and educational institutions all playing a critical role,” said Tiffany Melvin, President of NASCO. “It is important to remember that no matter what happens with NAFTA, there is much we can and should do at the local level to move the competitiveness of our continent forward, outside the scope of a trade agreement. Of course, a renegotiated NAFTA is ideal, but if an agreement cannot be reached at this time, the grassroots efforts of NASCO and our members will continue to create trading opportunities, improve and secure supply chains, and improve our continent’s workforce – to make North America the most competitive region on earth.”
NASCO is the only grassroots, continental organization focused on the competitiveness of the North American supply chain, workforce and energy independence.
For more information, please visit nasconetwork.com.