(Opinion) NH’s strongest trade partnership hiding in plain sight

U.S., Canada demonstrate the value of reliable partnership across the border

Rich Gulla

WORKFORCE

By: Rich Gulla

As president of a labor union representing thousands of New Hampshire workers and as a member of the New Hampshire Canadian Trade Council, I view the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) through the lens of the workers, businesses and communities that depend on our relationship with Canada.

When people hear the word “trade,” they often picture multinational corporations and distant markets.

What they don’t picture is a machinist in Manchester, a utility worker in Concord, a manufacturer in Nashua, or a small business owner in the North Country. Yet those workers and businesses are exactly why the future of USMCA matters.

Canada is New Hampshire’s largest trading partner and top export destination. Trade and investment with Canada support tens of thousands of jobs across our state, our region and generate billions of dollars in economic activity each year. Those numbers represent more than economic statistics; they represent families paying mortgages, businesses expanding operations and communities building stronger local economies.

For many New Englanders, Canada is more than a trading partner; it is a neighbor, a customer and a trusted friend.

That familiarity can sometimes cause us to overlook just how important this relationship truly is.

At a time when much of the world faces geopolitical instability, trade disputes and supply chain disruptions, the United States and Canada continue to demonstrate the value of a reliable partnership. Canada remains one of America’s most important trading partners and one of the largest destinations for U.S. exports. Every day, billions of dollars in goods and services cross our shared border.

For New Hampshire, that means opportunity. Thousands of New Hampshire companies export products around the world, many of them small and medium-sized businesses. Reliable access to Canadian markets helps those companies grow, invest and create jobs. Manufacturers on both sides of the border depend on integrated supply chains that allow them to compete globally. When those supply chains function efficiently, workers benefit.

That is one reason USMCA matters. The agreement provides stability and predictability for businesses making long-term investments. It gives employers confidence to expand operations, purchase equipment and hire workers. It helps ensure that goods and services continue to move efficiently throughout North America.

The benefits extend beyond trade. The United States and Canada share one of the world’s most integrated energy systems. Canada also supplies critical materials used in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, defense technologies, telecommunications equipment and battery production.

As policymakers work to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on less reliable global supply chains, Canada’s role becomes even more important.

As a labor leader, I understand why workers have sometimes viewed trade agreements with skepticism. Workers deserve trade policies that support good jobs, fair competition and economic security.

But today’s conversation is not about choosing between American jobs and foreign jobs. It is about strengthening a North American partnership that helps American workers compete in an increasingly uncertain world. Canadian goods and resources are deeply integrated into U.S. supply chains, supporting manufacturing and production here at home.

The partnership also extends beyond economics. Through NORAD, NATO, intelligence cooperation and defense manufacturing, the United States and Canada work together every day to advance our shared security interests.

The upcoming review of USMCA should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen an agreement that is already delivering benefits for workers, businesses and communities throughout North America.

For New Hampshire, preserving and strengthening our economic partnership with Canada is not a partisan issue; it is a practical one. The workers, small businesses and communities that benefit from this relationship understand the value of strong neighbors, reliable partnerships and shared prosperity.

That is something we should not take for granted.

Rich Gulla is president of the State Employees’ Association of New Hampshire (SEA/SEIU Local 1984), representing thousands of public employees across the state. A longtime public servant and union leader, he advocates on behalf of state workers at the State House and in communities throughout New Hampshire.