Canada Introduces Legislation to Ratify North America Trade Pact

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought forward legislation to ratify the new North American free trade agreement.

Speaking to lawmakers, Trudeau said the decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum cleared the biggest obstacle to the country’s ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

“Today is a big day for Canada,” Trudeau said in a speech in the House of Commons. “We’ve just introduced legislation to ratify the new Nafta and secure free trade across North America.”

The bill comes ahead of a visit to Ottawa by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who is scheduled to meet with Trudeau on Thursday to discuss advancing the agreement.

There is an element of urgency for Trudeau. Parliament is scheduled to break for summer recess in four weeks -- giving lawmakers in two legislative chambers little time to study and vote on the pact.

To contact the reporter on this story: Theophilos Argitis in Ottawa at targitis@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Theophilos Argitis at targitis@bloomberg.net, Chris Fournier

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