Alberta reaps rewards of free trade

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EDMONTON, Alta. — A newly-released provincial report indicates Alberta has seen its exports grow by 280 per cent since the introduction of free trade with the U.S.

Although that number may slip this year due to the mad cow incident, SARS and the rising Canadian dollar, 2002 numbers showed a total value of $49.7 billion in exports were shipped from Alberta. Of that, $43.9 billion was sent to the U.S. according to a report by Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations.

In 1988, when the free trade agreement with the U.S. was signed, Alberta’s exports were a mere $13 billion. Meanwhile, since Mexico joined the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, Alberta has seen its exports to Mexico increase five-fold.

The report indicates that the four westernmost provinces combined to export $100 billion worth of goods last year worldwide. Alberta was responsible for nearly half of those exports.

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