N.S. premier 'content' with how U.S. trade negotiations are going

Premier Tim Houston said he’s optimistic about Canada's ongoing trade negotiations with the U.S.

Houston spoke to reporters via videoconference while in Banff, Alta., on Wednesday following a briefing with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other first ministers. He said the negotiations are moving in a good direction.

“I was pretty content by what I heard today,” he said. “There’s still a few details to work out. But certainly in core areas like supply management, the core elements of supply management remain intact, that’s good for our Nova Scotia farmers. Some stuff around defence procurement are not touched or influenced by it. That’s good for Nova Scotia in general.”

Houston said he has confidence in Ottawa’s negotiation team, who have been working to finalize a deal that would prevent additional tariffs on some Canadian goods that were to come into effect on Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump said late Tuesday night the proposed tariffs were on hold until at least the end of the day Friday.

American alcohol

One of the concessions being asked of Canadian provinces is to return U.S. alcohol to the shelves.

Some provinces have resumed selling American alcohol, such as Nova Scotia, which put it back on the shelves last December. Proceeds of those sales have gone to charity and the corporation has not ordered additional U.S. product since early last year.

“If the country asks something of us — that we could do with our hand on our heart — then we would do it,” said Houston.

"Where we’re at today, what I understand about how this deal is shaping up and what it means for the long term, it’s something that I would be willing to do for the prime minister at this point in time.”

Houston said pulling U.S. alcohol from the shelves has "been an irritant" that has "kind of really bothered the United States for so many reasons."

“Now whether Nova Scotians, or Canadians, will actually buy it when it gets back on the shelves, that’s a whole other discussion," he said.

• Video

  Majority of Canadians say they won't buy American alcohol if it becomes available again

Another ask from the federal government that Houston revealed was for provinces to not have anything in procurement policies that specifically excludes the United States.

“That’s something we’re going to have to look at as well,” he said.

No red flags so far, premier says

The premier indicated that negotiators were taking a sector-specific approach, though he could not share details. When asked if there was anything in the briefing that Nova Scotians should be concerned about, Houston was again upbeat.

“I wouldn’t say there’s any red flags from what I’ve heard so far.”

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