Alabama to Lead International Trade Discussions at SEUS-CP Forum

News Summary

The Alabama Department of Commerce is leading a delegation to the SEUS-CP Business Forum in Newfoundland, focusing on expanding trade and investment opportunities. Key sectors include food and beverage, advanced manufacturing, and energy, promoting connections between Alabama businesses and Canadian markets. The forum aims to strengthen economic ties and cultural relations, particularly benefiting small businesses. With Canada as Alabama’s largest export market, the collaboration highlights the importance of maintaining these relationships for economic growth.

Alabama is set to take center stage in international trade discussions as the Alabama Department of Commerce leads a delegation to the 2025 Southeast U.S.-Canadian Provinces (SEUS-CP) Business Forum starting this Sunday in St. John, Newfoundland and Labrador. This significant three-day event focuses on expanding trade and investment opportunities between the Southeastern United States and Canadian provinces.

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Ed Castile will spearhead the mission, which aims to enhance commercial relations in three targeted sectors: food and beverage, advanced manufacturing, and energy. The SEUS-CP Business Forum seeks to fortify economic ties and foster cultural relations by uniting representatives from six Southeastern U.S. states with six Canadian provinces.

This year’s agenda promises to be comprehensive, featuring expert-led panel discussions, various networking events, and an innovative B2B matchmaking program. This matchmaking initiative is crucial as it connects Alabama companies with potential business partners and customers, including key procurement representatives from major Canadian firms such as NB Power, J.D. Irving, and Organigram Global.

Participation in this forum is particularly significant for small businesses in Alabama. Castile emphasized that the event provides direct access to high-value markets and opportunities for establishing international partnerships, which can drive economic growth for local enterprises.

Canada stands as a critical trading partner for Alabama, having emerged as the state’s largest export market in 2024, with shipments valued at $4.3 billion. This figure represents a 7% increase from the previous year. Moreover, Alabama’s imports from Canada amounted to $3.8 billion last year. The presence of over 260 Canadian companies in Alabama highlights the robust economic connection, contributing approximately 9,500 jobs in the state.

Since 2015, Canadian firms have invested over $1.7 billion in Alabama, creating around 3,000 jobs. These statistics underscore the importance of maintaining and growing these bilateral relationships to foster economic development in Alabama and beyond.

This year’s forum will also feature participation from two small Alabama-based businesses through a matchmaking program facilitated by Market Access International. This initiative aims to equip small firms to tap into the expanding trade opportunities within the region.

The SEUS-CP alliance, which was established in 2007, continues to focus on strengthening economic ties between the Southeastern U.S. and Canadian provinces. It serves as a platform for cultivating growth and development across various sectors, facilitating international collaborations that benefit local economies.

As the forum approaches, participants and stakeholders are encouraged to explore the full agenda and available sector-specific opportunities through the official SEUS-CP website, which promises to provide invaluable resources for those involved in shaping the future of trade relations in North America.

This forum represents not only an opportunity to discuss economic strategies but also a chance to build lasting partnerships that can transform the commercial landscape of Alabama and its Canadian counterparts.