Major Business Groups Say Canadian Government Needs to Resolve Blockade
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable said Feb. 10 the business community is trying to find workarounds to the blockade at the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge and other Canadian border crossings, "but we are already seeing some production cuts, shift reductions, and temporary plant closures. The North American economy relies on our ability to work closely together, including our manufacturing sectors. We need to apply the same spirit of cooperation to tackle this problem.
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“We respectfully urge the Canadian government to act swiftly to address the disruption to the flow of trade and its impact on manufacturers and other businesses on both sides of the border. We appreciate that the Biden Administration is engaged with the Canadian government, and we strongly encourage officials to continue efforts to resolve these blockages at the border.”
The Business Council of Canada said Feb. 11 that the blockades are a national emergency. "It is imperative that the federal government lead a nationally coordinated effort to clear the blockades and restore order," CEO Goldy Hyder said.
President Joe Biden released a readout of a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that echoed some of the Chamber's points. It said, "The two leaders agreed that the actions of the individuals who are obstructing travel and commerce between our two countries are having significant direct impacts on citizens’ lives and livelihoods. The President expressed his concern that U.S. companies and workers are experiencing serious effects, including slowdowns in production, shortened work hours, and plant closures. The Prime Minister promised quick action in enforcing the law, and the President thanked him for the steps he and other Canadian authorities are taking to restore the open passage of bridges to the United States. In turn, the Prime Minister thanked the President and his administration, the Governor of Michigan, and US officials for all of the assistance that the United States is providing to resolve this disruption."
The readout said Trudeau and Biden will stay in close touch over the next few days " to ensure that the free flow of traffic is restored at these vital transit points."