Eastern State Leaders Renew Call for Strengthening Ties and Economic Cooperation with Canadian Provinces
Updated resolution cites $147 billion in annual two-way trade and commits committee to sustained cross-border engagement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 29, 2026
Contact: dmdowell@csg.org
BOSTON — The Council of State Governments (CSG) East has adopted a policy resolution renewing the organization’s commitment to strengthening ties and economic cooperation between eastern U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Approved unanimously by the CSG East Executive Committee, the resolution calls for continued state and provincial leadership on cross-border cooperation, with particular emphasis on the role of state and provincial leaders to sustain this important relationship during a period of strain at the national level.
According to the resolution, the eleven CSG East states — stretching from Maryland to Maine — exported approximately $49 billion in goods to Canada in 2025 and imported approximately $73 billion, alongside an estimated $25 billion in services exports. More than 2,300 Canadian-owned businesses operate across the region, employing roughly 224,000 workers. Canada remains the leading export market for the majority of CSG East member states.
The resolution was drafted by members of the CSG East Canada-U.S. Relations Committee, which brings together state and provincial leaders from both sides of the border to discuss issues of mutual interest including energy policy, trade, tourism and cross-cultural exchange, and transportation. The committee is co-chaired by MPP Laurie Scott of Ontario and Pennsylvania State Representative Nate Davidson.
“It is up to state and provincial leaders to advocate for our constituents and regional economies,” said Rep. Davidson. “Particularly in the Northeastern states and neighboring provinces, the special relationship between Canada and the United States is felt directly on factory floors, family farms, and kitchen tables. By speaking with a unanimous voice, the states and provinces of CSG East deliver a clear message: together, we will actively pursue the shared prosperity of our regional economies, advocate for fair trade policies, and celebrate our common values.”
This year’s resolution places new emphasis on energy. It cites the “New England Clean Energy Connect,” which entered commercial operation in 2026, and the Champlain Hudson Power Express, which will carry Québec hydroelectricity to New York City — two projects that together link the Eastern Region’s grid more closely to Canadian generation.
It also notes the first joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, held July 1, 2026, and the period of annual review that follows, underscoring what the resolution describes as the value of stable and predictable rules for the businesses, workers, farmers, and communities of the Eastern Region.
Following nearly two years of tariff-based disruption to the binational relationship, the resolution specifically supports “the continued growth of economic cooperation, including the free and fair trade of goods and services, to the mutual benefit of both nations.” It further affirms the committee’s commitment to sustained engagement “irrespective of developments at the national level.”
The resolution additionally calls on all CSG East member jurisdictions to make formal appointments to the Canada-U.S. Relations Committee and encourages greater participation by Canadian members across the Conference’s other policy committees.
For more on the CSG East Canada-U.S. Relations Committee, visit https://csg-erc.org/policies/canada-us-relations or contact Policy Analyst Chris Kelleher, ckelleher@csg.org.
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