Federal cabinet minister Francois-Philippe Champagne starts two days of meetings in Washington today with the goal of unblocking North America's supply chain.
Champagne is the federal innovation, science and industry minister, a portfolio he describes as being at the core of building back Canada's post-COVID-19 pandemic economy.
Champagne says he will be pushing Canada's largely untapped rare-earth mining sector, which would allow the U.S. to be less reliant on China, the world's leading supplier of those minerals. The pandemic-induced bottlenecks have created shortages of semiconductors and rare-earth minerals needed to power everything from computers and cellphones to electric vehicles.
Champagne's visit followed the talks that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Joe Biden and others held at last week's G20 summit in Rome on easing the supply chain crunch that has clogged U.S. ports. Champagne says a "regional" supply chain focus is required to make the North American continent more self-reliant and less vulnerable to offshore forces.Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks at a news conference after the federal cabinet was sworn in, in Ottawa, on Oct. 26, 2021.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
François-Philippe Champagne in U.S. to talk unblocking supply chain and promote rare-earth mineralsFederal Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne will push Canada’s rare-earth mining sector during a two-day meeting with officials in Washington
Read more »
As trade bottlenecks weigh on economy, Liberals urged to help reshape supply chainsOpposition parties say the federal government should use the current snarl in global supply chains to rethink the country's reliance on foreign suppliers. Conservative critic Ed Fast says the Trudeau Liberals should prioritize investments in trade corridors and ports to improve the movement of goods through and out of the country.
Read more »
Asian shares mostly lower despite Dow's push over 36,000Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Wednesday, weighed down by concerns over disrupted supply chains and shipping, despite the Dow Jones Industrial Average's first close above 36,000 points.
Read more »
Trudeau takes carbon pricing debate to the global stage at COP26Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will push the world to negotiate a minimum price on pollution at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow today.
Read more »