Premier heading to Washington for trade mission
Brad Wall will promote Sask. products, importance of U.S. as trade partner
Premier Brad Wall will be meeting with U.S. politicians and senior administrators next week to promote trade and talk about energy.
Wall said Thursday he'll be in the U.S. capital April 3-6.
He'll meet Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Energy Secretary Rick Perry. He'll also talk with the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt.
Wall said he will be discussing various trade-related topics, including energy, softwood lumber and pipelines.
Given that U.S. President Donald Trump has given a boost to coal, it makes sense to talk about "clean coal" technology and Saskatchewan's carbon capture and sequestration project, Wall said.
"Obviously we have a story to tell," Wall said.
No meeting with Trump has yet been announced.
But during the visit, Wall does expect to meet with senators and members of the House of Representatives.
- With Canada-U.S. relationship in question, Wall says countries must enhance trade relations
- Sask. trade expert sees hope in CETA; China, India exports
- Trump pulls U.S. out of TPP, will renegotiate NAFTA 'at the appropriate time'
Wall will also deliver a keynote address on trade at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
The U.S. is Saskatchewan's largest customer, accounting for half of the province's exports in 2016. Last year, trade shipments were valued at $12.9 billion.
At the same time, 83 per cent of Saskatchewan's imports last year came from the U.S.