Connecting Canada to Greater Green Bay and Beyond

By: Colleen Duke, Senior Foreign Policy & Diplomacy Service Officer, Consulate General of Canada in Chicago

When President Kennedy visited Canada’s capital city in 1961, he wisely observed that “Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends.” Canada and the U.S. share a deep and multi-faceted relationship unlike any other in the world. No two nations depend more on each other for their mutual prosperity and security. We are bound together not only by our geography and history, but also our values, our economy, our environment, and our resolve to improve the lives of our citizens. Much of this can be seen in the relationship between Canada and Wisconsin, including in Greater Green Bay.

Trade

Our countries share one of the largest trading relationships in the world; over $1 trillion in bilateral trade in 2021. Built on integrated supply chains, about 79% of Canadian exports to the U.S. are incorporated into U.S.-produced goods. Canada is also the #1 customer for most U.S. states and Wisconsin is no exception. The Badger State sells more goods to Canada than your next five largest foreign markets COMBINED! In Brown County alone, where 2,400 jobs depend on exports to Canada, $389 million in goods and services were exported North of the border last year. Not only do you sell to us things but Canadian companies invest in the state’s economy. There are 189 Canadian-owned businesses that employ over 22,000 workers in Wisconsin. One example is Agropur, a top 20 global dairy producer. Since Agropur’s first investment in Wisconsin, the company has grown to four manufacturing facilities. Agropur understands that in Wisconsin, cheese is more than a product – it’s an important part of the state’s heritage and they are proud to have four Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers guiding their manufacturing processes. The Little Chute plant is a top manufacturer of cheese sticks for the food industry. Agropur is currently expanding the plant, doubling processing capacity and adding new skilled jobs.

Canadian companies active in the U.S. offer leading-edge capabilities across sectors including digital industries, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean technologies. And Canada is a preferred destination for foreign investment, given our competitive advantages of economic stability, cost, workforce ability, supply chain integrity, and innovation prowess. The Great Lakes

One cannot think about Greater Green Bay without the Great Lakes, a mutual environmental and economic asset. The Lakes contain almost 20% of the world’s surface freshwater, and are the basis for a $6 trillion regional economy.

Our countries work closely to protect this shared asset. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. First signed in 1972, it is a commitment by the U.S. and Canada to restore and protect these waters. At the subnational level, the Great Lakes Commission brings together eight U.S. states, including Wisconsin, and two Canadian provinces, to recommend policies and practices to balance the use, development and conservation of the Lakes. The group’s semi-annual meeting was held in Green Bay in June 2022.

We are also working on cooperative actions to achieve our common objective of net-zero emissions by 2050, aligning policy solutions and regulatory approaches, and building resilience to climate change impacts.

As both countries continue to work together, it’s clear in so many areas that we are stronger as nations when we work together. At the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, which represents our country here in Wisconsin, we are keen to work with you to advance our shared objectives.

Brown County Goods Exported to Canada by Industry

In June 2022, the Consulate General of Canada hosted a reception at Lambeau Field for the Great Lakes Commission’s (GLC) Semiannual Meeting. From left: Canadian Consul Aaron Annable; Wisconsin GLC Chair Todd Ambs; GLC Executive Director Erika Jensen; Quebec Delegate in Chicago Mario Limoges. n Agriculture | 28% ($103 Million) n Apparel & Textiles | 3% ($11 Million) n Chemicals | 7% ($27 Million) n Machinery | 10% ($37 Million) n Forest Products | 39% ($144 Million) n Minerals & Metals | 3% ($10 Million) n Other | 10% (37 Million)