VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan is in Washington D.C. for two days of meetings with Trump administration's top trade officials, where he intends to press to resolve the softwood lumber trade dispute between Canada and the United States.
Horgan has met with U.S. Trade Secretary Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Dave Reichert, a congressman from Washington State.
Lighthizer is regarded as Trump's top official in upcoming North American free trade talks, while Ross is a billionaire banker appointed by Trump and known as a fierce trade opponent.
My update from Washington, DC, in between meetings where we're fighting for BC jobs and a fair deal on softwood. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/V7hQ2yWgh1
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) July 27, 2017
Reichert is the chairman of a committee looking into the modernization of NAFTA.
Horgan met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa Tuesday where the two leaders discussed the need to resolve the trade dispute.
Good meeting today with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. Talked about BC's priorities on softwood. pic.twitter.com/IvosJ2gZYT
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) July 27, 2017
The premier also met Canada's U.S. Ambassador David MacNaughton and B.C.'s special softwood trade envoy David Emerson.