our advocacy efforts in Canada, and AEM will work to deliver
for our industry in Ottawa.”
AEM is based in Milwaukee, Wis., and maintains full-time
offices in the world capitals of Washington, D.C. and
Beijing, China.
Canada has always stood apart as one of the most impor-tant
parts of the industry in both the construction and
agricultural sectors that AEM represents. The equipment
manufacturing industry supports about 149,000 jobs in
Canada as of 2016, and contributed about $15 billion USD to
the gross domestic product of Canada that year.
Those economic contributions are fueled both by manu-facturers
based in Canada as well as cross-border service and
supply chains that were facilitated in part by NAFTA over the
last quarter century.
Canada is also the largest export market for U.S.-based
manufacturers of agricultural and construction equip-ment
and vice-versa. U.S. equipment manufacturers export
roughly $11 billion to Canada. Likewise, the U.S. and Mexico
are essential export markets for Canadian equipment manu-facturers
and suppliers.
AEM is also deeply engaged in promoting a strong infra-structure
system and agricultural economy in Canada, both
of which are important priorities for the health of the equip-ment
manufacturing industry in North America.
To help drive the association’s expanded Canadian advo-cacy,
AEM empaneled a special working group chaired by
Linamar-Skyjack Inc. group president, Brad Boehler, and
consists of representatives from 18 different AEM member
companies conducting business in Canada.
“I am thrilled to see AEM take a more active role in advo-cating
on behalf of our industry in Canada,” Boehler said in a
late 2017 statement touting the efforts. “Given AEM’s extensive
policy expertise and connectivity with senior decision-makers
in both industry and government, the association is uniquely
positioned to help companies of all sizes overcome legislative
and regulatory issues impacting their economic growth.”
Already, AEM has notched some visible successes. The
association is now a member of the Canadian-American
Business Council (CABC) and helped to sponsor its “State of
the Relationship” reception in Ottawa last year, where AEM
staff visited with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft.
AEM also hosted a dinner for its Board of Directors and other
industry executives at the Canadian Embassy in Washington,
D.C. last year.
Looking forward, AEM has an aggressive game plan for
2018, beginning with the recent round of NAFTA negotia-tions
in Montreal in January.
Russ, AEM’s international policy director, joined other
equipment manufacturing leaders to attend talks and urge the
best possible outcome for the industry. AEM has suggested
several ways to improve NAFTA, ranging from changes to rules
of origin, improving customs facilitation and adding a new
chapter that will govern digital trade. The association has also
been very active educating lawmakers about the economic
consequences that would occur to the equipment manufac-turing
industry should the U.S. withdraw from NAFTA.
During the sixth round of NAFTA negotiations, AEM met
with negotiators from all three countries to highlight the
CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
INDUSTRY PROFILE
Canada has always
stood apart as one of
the most important
parts of the industry in
both the construction
and agricultural sectors
that AEM represents.
ERIC BUERMEYER / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Construction cranes
dominate the
Vancouver, B.C. skyline
34 Q1 2018 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
