Minnesota

Trade dominated by energy, agriculture and snowmobiles

A fifth of Minnesota’s exports are destined for its northern neighbor, including 70 percent of exported snowmobiles made in the state by companies such as Arctic Cat, Polaris and BRP. Canada is also the main customer for the state’s exports of ethanol and zinc ore.

Canada, in turn, is the sole source of Minnesota’s imported energy products, including crude oil, natural gas, liquid propane and electricity. Minnesota also buys large quantities of products that sustain key sectors of the economy, including agriculture (fertilizer, cattle and swine), manufacturing (plastics, steel and wood pulp) and construction (lumber).

Canadian-owned companies employed 25,400 Minnesotans in 2018. Among the major employers are bus manufacturer New Flyer Industries (Crookston and Saint Cloud, MN), Alliance Pipeline Co., a joint venture between Enbridge Inc. and Pembina Pipeline (Eden Prairie, MN), RBC (banking), and Bombardier Recreational Products (Saint Peter, MN).

What supporters are saying

“Trade affects almost every aspect of Minnesota’s diverse economy. This agreement will provide important stability and market access for Minnesota agriculture, as well as for other Minnesota products.”

Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), July 1, 2020

“USMCA, and the access it provides to new markets, will be [a] critical factor in sustaining agriculture, expanding southern Minnesota’s small businesses and creating short and long-term economic prosperity.”

Congressman Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-1), July 1, 2020

“Trade with our North American partners means prosperity for Minnesota farmers, manufacturers, small businesses and their employees. This agreement will create confidence in the markets and create new opportunities for workers across a range of industries.”

Doug Loon, President of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, December 14, 2019

Spotlight on Canadian business

Delivering clean ethanol and high nutrition feed

Toronto-based Greenfield Global Inc., Canada’s largest ethanol producer, has expanded its U.S. presence with the acquisition the Corn Plus distillery in Winnebago, MN. Central Farm Service supplies corn to the plant, which produces 48-million gallons of ethanol per year, as well as animal feed. Greenfield operates eight plants in Canada and the U.S., producing hundreds of products, including biofuel, specialty chemicals, distilled spirits and distillers’ grain.

Cutting its carbon footprint at Minneapolis HQ

Royal Bank of Canada’s RBC Wealth Management-U.S. subsidiary is poised to move into its new RBC Gateway headquarters tower in Minneapolis, MN. Slated to open in mid-2022, the building has several key energy saving features, including high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, daylight harvesting lighting techniques, LED light fixtures, sensors to track workspace usage and furniture made from recycled materials. RBC Wealth Management earned its third consecutive Best Places to Work designation in 2021 with a range of benefits, including hybrid work arrangements, free gym memberships, subsidized child and elder care, free virtual health care and paid time-off to get Covid vaccines.

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