Manitoba and Ontario vow to remove interprovincial trade barriers

Glacier FarmMedia—The provincial governments of Manitoba and Ontario have agreed to remove trade barriers between the two provinces.

It’s “the latest step we are taking to unlock the enormous potential of true free trade within Canada,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a news release May 14.

The release heralded a memorandum of understanding signed by Ford and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. The document states that both provinces will:

Interprovincial trade barriers have been a standing topic of debate in Canada. The topic was thrust again into the spotlight this year as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened widespread tariffs on Canadian goods.

In January, Canada’s premiers agreed to take “meaningful action” to improve the flow of goods and services across the country. The next month, the federal government said it would remove 20 out of 39 exceptions to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement—most of which pertained to government procurement. The government said the move would increase businesses’ ability to compete across Canada.

In 2021, the value of trade between Ontario and Manitoba was $19.5 billion, the province of Ontario said in a news release.

Canola oil products and conventional crude oil are among Manitoba’s top exports to Ontario. Ontario’s top exports to Manitoba include household goods, food and beverages.

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