OTTAWA –
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says she is keeping a close eye on the pace of trade at Canadian ports for signs of strain.
So far Freeland suggests she hasn’t seen difficulties similar to those south of the border, and she sounds upbeat about Canada’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
The recovery has come with a rebound in consumer spending for goods, which has put pressure on shipping companies and ports trying to keep up with demand.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a plan to have the Port of Los Angeles run round-the-clock to ease constraints that have put upward pressure on prices for goods as companies pass on higher costs.
Freeland says she discussed supply-chain concerns with her global counterparts during meetings this week in Washington.
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem also attended the meetings between world finance ministers and central bankers as the latter group looks to manage higher inflation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2021.
