00               CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25(L&C)                                                               
01 Supporting efforts to modernize and improve the United States-Mexico-Canada                                             
02 Agreement; and supporting simplified border crossings and free trade with Canada and                                    
03 Mexico.                                                                                                                 
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
05 WHEREAS the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement was negotiated during the                                           
06 first administration of President Donald J. Trump as a modernization of the North American                              
07 Free Trade Agreement, and was later approved by the United States Congress with bipartisan                              
08 support, reflecting a continued national commitment to stable and cooperative North                                     
09 American trade; and                                                                                                     
10       WHEREAS the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been mutually                                             
11 beneficial for all parties since the agreement entered into force on July 1, 2020; and                                  
12       WHEREAS the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has provided a stable and                                     
13 predictable framework for trade and investment that allows state residents to plan with                                 
14 confidence; and                                                                                                         
15       WHEREAS the state has specifically benefited from increased trade with Canada                                   

01 facilitated by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement; and                                                           
02       WHEREAS, in 2024, imports to the state from Canada exceeded $1,000,000,000; and                                 
03       WHEREAS imports to the state from Canada include essential resources and                                        
04 components, including $351,000,000 in petroleum products, $62,000,000 in metals, and                                    
05 $61,000,000 in machinery; and                                                                                           
06       WHEREAS, in 2024, exports from the state to Canada exceeded $614,000,000; and                                   
07       WHEREAS close integration between the United States and Canada has created more                                 
08 efficient supply chains and has enhanced the competitiveness of United States industries in                             
09 the global market; and                                                                                                  
10 WHEREAS the state's small businesses benefit from free access to Canadian markets                                     
11 and predictable trade relationships maintained by the United States-Mexico-Canada                                       
12 Agreement; and                                                                                                          
13 WHEREAS Canada supports 20,300 employees in the state, and Canadian-owned                                             
14 businesses provide an additional 5,950 jobs for state residents; and                                                    
15 WHEREAS 25 percent tariffs were imposed on imports of Canadian steel in March of                                      
16 2018; and                                                                                                               
17 WHEREAS, by May of 2019, importation of Canadian steel to the state dropped by                                        
18 37.8 percent, representing the lowest level of steel imports in nearly a decade; and                                    
19 WHEREAS the state's unique geographical location makes efficient cross-border                                         
20 trade with Canada essential for accessing supplies that are crucial to the state's businesses and                       
21 communities; and                                                                                                        
22 WHEREAS free trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico makes goods                                          
23 cheaper, expands markets, and creates opportunities for economic growth; and                                            
24 WHEREAS smooth and efficient border crossings for commuters, regular travelers,                                       
25 and their pets will grow trust and mutual goodwill between North American countries; and                                
26 WHEREAS positive relationships with Canada facilitate the state's multi-billion-                                      
27 dollar tourism industry; and                                                                                            
28 WHEREAS the 2026 joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement                                            
29 represents an opportunity to extend and improve the agreement, while removing tariffs and                               
30 barriers to profitable trade and positive relationships between the state and Canada;                                   
31 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature reaffirms its support for                                            

01 extending the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement; and be it                                                          
02       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the federal                                         
03 administration's efforts to modernize and improve the United States-Mexico-Canada                                       
04 Agreement; and be it                                                                                                    
05       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the creation of a                                   
06 program that would simplify border crossings for trusted commuters, regular travelers, and                              
07 their pets; and be it                                                                                                   
08       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the federal                                            
09 administration to work toward a system of free trade with Canada and Mexico.                                            
10 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President                                   
11 of the United States; the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada; the                                   
12 Honorable JD Vance, Vice President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate;                               
13 the Honorable Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and the                                       
14 Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators, and the                                         
15 Honorable Nicholas Begich, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in                                     
16 Congress.