Amidst an ongoing back-and-forth over tariffs and international trade between Canada and the United States, the provincial government has set up a new office in Washington it hopes will be able to advocate for Manitobans.
Premier Wab Kinew announced today his government has opened a permanent office in Washington, D.C., led by former White House news correspondent Richard Madan, to build on trade and economic relationships with the U.S. that support Manitoba jobs.
“Manitoba has what America needs and a trade office in the heart of the Capitol will strengthen trade ties and protect Manitoba jobs as we navigate the economic uncertainty we’re all facing,” said Kinew. “Richard has the knowledge, skill set and connections in Washington to speak the language of the Trump administration and be a voice for Manitobans in the White House.”
According to a provincial release, the goal of this office will be to “develop relationships with U.S. lawmakers, industry leaders and trade officials to promote strong ties with Manitoba and ensure Manitoba’s interests are protected in high-level trade negotiations like a renewed Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement”. The Premier also said Manitoba has strong trade connections with states like Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.
Madan is a journalist who has covered American and Canadian politics for more than two decades including as a White House correspondent for major Canadian news networks. In their release, the provincial government said he will be in Manitoba this week to meet with local business, labour representatives, Indigenous leaders and government leaders.
