Canadian suppliers "have few rights" in state and local government procurement, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative said on Wednesday, responding to concerns about the "Buy American" provisions of the U.S. economic stimulus package, according to Reuters. The Obama administration is committed to implementing the provision in a manner consistent with U.S. obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement and World Trade Organization, said Debbie Mesloh, a USTR spokeswoman. But Canadian provinces are not parties to government procurement agreements, Mesloh noted. "As a consequence, Canadian suppliers have few rights to sub-central procurement in the United States," she said.
