Canadian official says faster imports could help Wal-Mart
Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Business/67477/
Improvements at Prince Rupert’s port in Canada’s British Columbia will mean that Wal-Mart can import products quicker and cheaper than using Los Angeles, a Canadian official said last week.
Most United States imports from China and other Asian and Pacific countries come through the port at Los Angeles and Long Beach, which is becoming very crowed and troubled by delays, Norris Pettis, Canada’s Consul-General, told Fayetteville Rotary Club members last week.
Once this port expansion is completed, Chinese shipments will be able to reach Prince Rupert two or three days faster than Los Angeles and then be quickly sent to Memphis, Tenn., he said.
He also said new U. S. border security measures implemented since Sept. 11, 2001, have hindered the flow of free trade across the Canadian. Extra inspections have slowed deliver of shipments and increased costs for businesses and consumers, he said.
Pettis said he met this week with executives at Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods and J. B. Hunt in an effort to promote trade between Arkansas and Canada.
The United States and Canada are both each other’s largest trading partner, he said.
Arkansas sells more good to Canada than to Mexico, China and France combined, he said.
Pettis, a former military officer, leads a Dallas-based group that represents Canada’s interests in five states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Pettis said he met with Tyson officials to learn more about the company’s energy innovations, like developing “ renewable diesel from animal fats. ”
He has also met with University of Arkansas officials to discuss the development of Fayetteville Shale, sustainability and other issues.