The commercial relationship between Japan and Canada is underpinned by our countries’ shared values and desire for businesses to operate within a predictable rules-based international trade environment. To inform our governments’ dialogue through the Joint Economic Committee, our two organizations hosted a virtual meeting of the Japan-Canada Chambers Council (JCCC) to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment activity.
On February 23 U.S. President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau issued a ‘Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership’ stating ‘Both leaders agreed to take a coordinated approach based on science and public health criteria when considering measures to ease Canada-U.S. border restrictions in the future.’ Less than five months later, Washington appears to have lost its copy
Today’s clarification from Finance Minister Freeland regarding Bill C-208 provides much needed certainty for small businesses by making clear the Bill is now part of the Income Tax Act.
As these measures are implemented, we will need to address a number of outstanding issues for Canadians, including how to efficiently manage points of entry to avoid border congestion, what changes the U.S. government will make for Canadians travelling to that country and how the rules for unvaccinated minors will be applied. Most importantly, the ArriveCan app is a poor substitute for a secure system of interoperable digital health credentials.
