Yesterday in Ottawa, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, met with the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton.
The meeting reinforced the close partnership between Canada and the EU, and focused on the importance of investing in industrial policies that create good jobs, fight climate change, and make our supply chains more resilient.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Commissioner spoke about the work that Canada and the EU are doing to respond to the United States' Inflation Reduction Act and ensure a prosperous future for workers and businesses in their respective jurisdictions. The Deputy Prime Minister noted Canada's desire to collaborate with the EU to ensure that new clean technology investment will create more opportunities for workers in Canada and the EU.
In advance of the EU unveiling its Critical Raw Materials Act in the coming months, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Commissioner discussed the importance of developing critical mineral supply chains that help ensure the economic resiliency of the world's democracies. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the steps Canada is taking to become a reliable supplier of critical minerals for our democratic partners.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Commissioner also spoke about the Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum, which aims to help re-establish historical transatlantic trade flows in steel and aluminum between the United States and the EU. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Canada closely follows the EU-US discussions, and shares the objectives of promoting decarbonization and addressing overcapacity in these sectors.
The Deputy Prime Minister concluded by thanking the Commissioner for the EU's strong leadership in supporting Ukraine and holding Russia to account for its illegal and barbaric invasion.
