Dade moderates conversation on North America's the evolving competitive landscape

The German-Canadian Business Association (GCBA) and the AmCham Canada Western Chapter recently partnered to host a panel discussion in Calgary titled “North American Competitiveness: Where Do Europe, Canada, and the U.S. Align?” The event brought together business leaders and industry experts to examine the evolving competitive landscape across North America and the growing influence of geopolitics, trade policy, national security considerations, and the increasing importance of trust, shared values, and the exchange of know how in international trade and investment decisions.

The discussion was moderated by Carlo Dade, Director of International Policy at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, and featured panelists Charles St-Arnaud, Chief Economist at Servus Credit Union, Clark Grue, President and CCO at ClearSky Global, and Markus Hahn, President of Butting Canada. The event was organized in collaboration with Panos Kantzilieris, Chairperson of AmCham Canada Western Chapter, Shane Jaffer, Board Member of AmCham Canada Western Chapter, and Alexandra Liebrecht, Director Alberta of the German-Canadian Business Association.

A central theme throughout the discussion was how rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics are reshaping North American trade relationships, infrastructure priorities, and supply chain strategies. Panelists highlighted that many European companies continue to operate with centralized North American distribution hubs located in the United States to serve both the US and Canadian markets. While operationally efficient, this model can unintentionally expose products entering Canada to tariffs despite the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), particularly when goods move through US based distribution systems before entering Canada or when products are shipped as prefabricated components and final assembly takes place in the United States before entering the Canadian market.

The conversation also explored how rising costs and limited capacity have reduced the economic viability of free trade zones and in-bond distribution centers as long term solutions. As a result, businesses are increasingly evaluating more localized Canadian and regional distribution infrastructure to improve resilience and competitiveness across North American markets, where differing national, state, and provincial regulations, tax structures, and trade policies continue to shape market access and operational strategy.

Additional insights focused on Canada’s broader trade diversification strategy and the increasing importance of strengthening trade relationships beyond the United States. Data presented during the discussion demonstrated growing Canadian exports to non-US markets and emphasized the importance of attracting foreign investment to support Canada’s future infrastructure, energy, and industrial development priorities.

The discussion reflected the shared commitment of GCBA and AmCham Canada Western Chapter to fostering informed dialogue, international collaboration, and stronger cross border business relationships.