Former Congressman, Bill Owens was the key note speaker at the 25th Anniversary of the CANAM Border Trade Alliance Conference in Ottawa Canada on May 5th, 6th and 7th. There were over 200 attendees at this event Mr. Owens serves as a Member of the Senior Advisor’s Board which consists of several Ambassadors and the leaders of the Canadian Border Service Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

The focus of Mr. Owens’ remarks were on the state of US/Canada trade, as well the status of the US/Canada/Mexico Agreement (USMCA) and its path towards passage. Mr. Owens noted that the legislation was 40 to 80 votes short at the time he spoke, that the steel and aluminum tariffs are holding back passage in Canada and Mexico (which have subsequently been removed) and that the administration had finally approached Speaker Pelosi in an attempt to resolve issues that the Democratic caucus has with the legislation.

NOTE: Since the presentation of Mr. Owens’ remarks, a number of issues have arisen, and what impact these will have on passage both in the United States and Mexico is at this juncture unknown.