FREDERICTON, N.B. — Business Minister, Norman Betts, will meet with International Trade Minister, Pierre Pettigrew, this week to discuss trade and border issues regarding the province’s exports.

The meeting with Betts is being held as part of Pettigrew’s outreach and trade development tour throughout the country, and will serve as a follow-up to previous discussions between the two ministers during an earlier international trade meeting in Montreal.

“The Government of New Brunswick has been active in terms of both international and internal trade matters within Canada,” Betts says. “We are among the most ‘trade active’ provinces in the nation. This one-on-one meeting will emphasize our commitment to strengthen our province’s prosperity through our trade activities. It will also demonstrate that we are working and consulting with our federal counterparts for the collective benefit of Canadian and New Brunswick exporters.”

Betts says he will be focusing on several key issues with the federal minister including, the unique status of the Maritime provinces in the softwood lumber trade; openness, security and efficiency at the border with the U.S.; federal tariff legislation as it relates to New Brunswick exports and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal; New Brunswick’s roadways to the U.S. border and the province’s strategic location as a magnet and gateway for trade in North America. Betts says he will also introduce Pettigrew to the province’s new International Strategy as well.