USCIB Senior Advisor Shaun Donnelly was the guest speaker on a webinar titled, “Biden Trade Policy: What’s Ahead?” hosted by the Vancouver-based Pacific Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Canada. Donnelly, a former USTR trade negotiator and retired U.S. Ambassador, offered his candid assessments of the economic and political factors shaping President Joe Biden’s trade policy, with a special focus on Canada, the US-Mexico-Canada (“USMCA”) agreement, China, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Questions from webinar participants focused on concerns about a turn toward protectionism in the U.S., especially on government procurement in light of strong statements from the President and other Administration officials endorsing “Buy American.”
According to Donnelly, it was a “return gig” for him; in 2018, he had traveled to Vancouver as the dinner speaker at the AmCham’s annual dinner.
“It’s always good to get beyond our Washington trade policy wonk cocoon and speak with, and listen to, real business people, whether here at home in the U.S. or in key trade partners like Canada,” said Donnelly. “Canada is obviously a unique trade partner with our integrated North American marketplace. I told the webinar participants that I am confident that the Biden Administration would be an engaged partner with Canada on USMCA implementation issues, as well as on shared global priorities like WTO reform and confronting China’s abusive trade practices as well as, of course, the full range of bilateral issues. It was a very good session. And no jet lag!”