Canada Blocks Buy America Provisions at Ferry Project

January 20, 2015

The Government of Canada signed an order to block Alaska’s Department of Transportation from applying U.S. ‘Buy America’ legislation on the ferry terminal demolition and reconstruction project at the Port of Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Ed Fast, Canada’s Minister of International Trade said that he was disappointed by the State of Alaska’s decision not to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding these provisions.

”We have been clear: the application of protectionist Buy America provisions on Canadian soil is unacceptable and an affront to Canadian sovereignty,” said Minister Fast. ‘‘Therefore, an order has been signed under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act securing Canada’s right to prevent compliance with the Buy America provisions for this project. We remain committed to working with our U.S. partners to resolve this unacceptable situation and call on them to seek a waiver of the Buy America restrictions.”

However, if the State of Alaska does not waive the ‘Buy America’ provisions, Minister Fast said that Canada is prepared to exercise the prevention order to defend the country’s interests.

The Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act is used to prevent foreign laws which the government deems adverse to Canada’s interests.

World Maritime News Staff