The Importance of North American Free Trade for Businesses

Here at Thunderbird Plastics, we have been suppliers of great, affordable, and reusable injection-moulded plastic solutions across North America since 1970. The interconnectedness of the North American markets is integral to the success of our business.Recent political discussions surrounding tariffs on Canadian imports into the United States market have raised concerns about the challenges that businesses like ours would face if trade in North America were no longer free. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to uphold free trade for businesses, consumers, and the prosperity of regions that are unbound by borders. A map of North America with American and Canadian flags overlayed. 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These declarations have inspired us at Thunderbird to discuss the benefits of North American free trade.

The History of North American Free Trade

Free trade agreements like NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and its successor, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), were established to reduce barriers to trade and stimulate economies across the continent. These agreements have enabled the seamless flow of goods, services, and raw materials without being hindered by the borders across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. For us at Thunderbird Plastics, these agreements have allowed our business to thrive. An image of a farming combine with two farmers shaking hands. Tags: reusable transport packaging, bakery trays, berry trays, farm trays, farming supplies store near me, farming supplies near me, farming supplies near me, farming supplies store, farming supplies store, fish farming supplies, co op farming supplies, farming supplies canada, farming supplies canada, berry farming, harvesting basket, bc shellfish harvesting map, apple harvesting near me, harvesting, harvesting garlic when, harvesting potatoes when, combine harvesting machine, harvesting garlic, meaning of harvesting, harvesting cannabis, strawberry harvesting season, john deere combine harvesting, grain harvesting, the harvesting, rain water harvesting, harvesting rainwater, urban harvesting, case ih combine harvesting, aerogarden harvesting, tax loss harvesting, harvesting synonyms, rain harvesting system, harvesting synonym, rainfall harvesting, cranberry harvesting, harvesting rhubarb, harvesting meaning, harvesting basil, harvesting fresh basil, harvesting near me, definition of harvesting, harvesting on a full moon, sunflower seed harvesting, potato harvesting, harvesting basket, harvesting potatoes, harvesting cranberries, corn harvesting, harvesting corn, onion harvesting, harvesting time, shelterwood harvesting, harvesting lettuce, harvesting dill, harvesting garden, harvesting operation, harvesting energy, blue harvesting, israel organ harvesting, organ harvesting, harvesting onions, harvesting lettuce leaves, harvesting leaf lettuce, harvesting time, tiktok data harvesting, is rainwater harvesting illegal, peanut harvesting, water harvesting system, harvesting traduction, cotton harvesting, shellfish harvesting map, season for harvesting, colostrum harvesting, harvesting lavender, harvesting asparagus, harvesting cilantro, harvesting of wheat, harvesting garlic scapes, harvesting of soybean, tree harvesting, harvesting kale, harvesting beets, harvesting coriander, harvesting season, harvesting services, cashew harvesting, bc shellfish harvesting map, harvesting garlic scapes, harvesting wheat, blueberry harvesting, harvesting parsley, potatoes harvesting time, harvesting spinach, john deere harvesting, harvesting canola, harvesting mint, quinoa harvesting, wildlife harvesting, harvesting rosemary, harvesting oregano, harvesting quinoa, harvesting mint leaves, harvesting sunflowers, harvesting romaine lettuce, harvesting basil leaves, pumpkin harvesting, harvesting pine nuts, wild rice harvesting, sugar cane harvesting, harvesting sunflowers, custom harvesting, grape harvesting, cotton harvesting machine, harvesting tomatoes, harvesting peas, water harvesting tank, lightning harvesting, celery harvesting time, harvesting chaga, garden harvesting basket, harvesting horseradish, harvesting thyme, harvesting vegetables, harvesting walnuts, black walnut harvesting, wild rice harvesting, walnut harvesting, harvesting chives, apple harvesting, aloe vera harvesting, harvesting carrot seeds, apple tree harvesting, carrot harvesting machine, harvesting swiss chard, harvesting mullein, harvesting labourers, over harvesting, harvesting potatoes too early, harvesting machinery, pearl harvesting, harvesting water, harvesting beans, harvesting fiddleheads, harvesting combine price, timber harvesting equipment for sale, strawberry harvesting, asparagus harvesting, harvesting of sugarcane, harvesting equipment, harvesting poppy seeds, rice harvesting equipment, harvesting crops, forest harvesting, tobacco harvesting, harvesting hops, harvesting cabbage, harvesting apples, harvesting aloe vera, harvesting zucchini, harvesting marigold seeds, harvesting mullein, harvesting potatoes too early, harvesting tobacco, harvesting swiss chard, harvesting basil seeds, harvesting saffron, wood harvesting, diy rain harvesting system, harvesting garlic in ontario, tools of harvesting, sweet potato harvesting, harvesting rose hips, harvesting cauliflower, harvesting grain, harvesting oats, residential rain harvesting systems, shellfish harvesting map nova scotia, harvesting catnip, hazelnut harvesting, harvesting arugula, mechanical harvesting machines, automated harvesting machines, sustainable farming, sustainable agriculture technologyMost of our customers are located across the border from us, and the cost-effective movement of our products has been integral to our ability to serve our customers in multiple countries efficiently.

The Current State of Free Trade in North America

Shortly after the recent election, the upcoming administration declared plans to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from both Canada and Mexico in an effort to bolster American manufacturing while also citing concerns over illegal immigration and the movement of illegal drugs into the United States. The reason stated for the tariff is that both Canada and Mexico have not made sufficient efforts to mitigate these issues. On December 27th, 2024, Canadian Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly met with the USA’s nominees for Commerce and Interior Secretaries in Florida to discuss Canada’s proposed efforts to combat illegal drug trafficking and illegal immigration. The discussions emphasized the negative impact on the economies of both countries, and representatives from both sides have decided to revisit this topic in the coming weeks. Earlier in December of 2024, Canada pledged $1.3 billion CAD over the next six years to strengthen border security, and it is yet to be seen whether this investment is enough to avoid such steep tariffs.

It is clear that the tariff declarations will have unintended consequences for both the U.S. and Canadian sides. Over 50% of crude oil imports to the U.S. are from Canada, and a 25% tariff could lead to a potential increase of about a dollar per gallon for American consumers.

How Free Trade Fuels Our Business

Our ability to distribute our high-quality agricultural totes, harvesting bins, transportation lugs, and more is heavily reliant on an un-barriered and integrated supply chain. Free trade allows us to maintain competitive pricing for our clients and deliver our products in a timely fashion.

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Broader Implications for Erosion of North American Free Trade

The erosion of USMCA free trade principles will have a predictably negative impact on North America’s economic vitality and competition in not only the home market but the global market as well. Three stacks of coins with each stack bigger than the next. A red line graph indicates that there is an increase in money and this denotes rising costs. Tags: reusable transport packaging, bakery trays, berry trays, farm trays, farming supplies store near me, farming supplies near me, farming supplies near me, farming supplies store, farming supplies store, fish farming supplies, co op farming supplies, farming supplies canada, farming supplies canada, berry farming, harvesting basket, bc shellfish harvesting map, apple harvesting near me, harvesting, harvesting garlic when, harvesting potatoes when, combine harvesting machine, harvesting garlic, meaning of harvesting, harvesting cannabis, strawberry harvesting season, john deere combine harvesting, grain harvesting, the harvesting, rain water harvesting, harvesting rainwater, urban harvesting, case ih combine harvesting, aerogarden harvesting, tax loss harvesting, harvesting synonyms, rain harvesting system, harvesting synonym, rainfall harvesting, cranberry harvesting, harvesting rhubarb, harvesting meaning, harvesting basil, harvesting fresh basil, harvesting near me, definition of harvesting, harvesting on a full moon, sunflower seed harvesting, potato harvesting, harvesting basket, harvesting potatoes, harvesting cranberries, corn harvesting, harvesting corn, onion harvesting, harvesting time, shelterwood harvesting, harvesting lettuce, harvesting dill, harvesting garden, harvesting operation, harvesting energy, blue harvesting, israel organ harvesting, organ harvesting, harvesting onions, harvesting lettuce leaves, harvesting leaf lettuce, harvesting time, tiktok data harvesting, is rainwater harvesting illegal, peanut harvesting, water harvesting system, harvesting traduction, cotton harvesting, shellfish harvesting map, season for harvesting, colostrum harvesting, harvesting lavender, harvesting asparagus, harvesting cilantro, harvesting of wheat, harvesting garlic scapes, harvesting of soybean, tree harvesting, harvesting kale, harvesting beets, harvesting coriander, harvesting season, harvesting services, cashew harvesting, bc shellfish harvesting map, harvesting garlic scapes, harvesting wheat, blueberry harvesting, harvesting parsley, potatoes harvesting time, harvesting spinach, john deere harvesting, harvesting canola, harvesting mint, quinoa harvesting, wildlife harvesting, harvesting rosemary, harvesting oregano, harvesting quinoa, harvesting mint leaves, harvesting sunflowers, harvesting romaine lettuce, harvesting basil leaves, pumpkin harvesting, harvesting pine nuts, wild rice harvesting, sugar cane harvesting, harvesting sunflowers, custom harvesting, grape harvesting, cotton harvesting machine, harvesting tomatoes, harvesting peas, water harvesting tank, lightning harvesting, celery harvesting time, harvesting chaga, garden harvesting basket, harvesting horseradish, harvesting thyme, harvesting vegetables, harvesting walnuts, black walnut harvesting, wild rice harvesting, walnut harvesting, harvesting chives, apple harvesting, aloe vera harvesting, harvesting carrot seeds, apple tree harvesting, carrot harvesting machine, harvesting swiss chard, harvesting mullein, harvesting labourers, over harvesting, harvesting potatoes too early, harvesting machinery, pearl harvesting, harvesting water, harvesting beans, harvesting fiddleheads, harvesting combine price, timber harvesting equipment for sale, strawberry harvesting, asparagus harvesting, harvesting of sugarcane, harvesting equipment, harvesting poppy seeds, rice harvesting equipment, harvesting crops, forest harvesting, tobacco harvesting, harvesting hops, harvesting cabbage, harvesting apples, harvesting aloe vera, harvesting zucchini, harvesting marigold seeds, harvesting mullein, harvesting potatoes too early, harvesting tobacco, harvesting swiss chard, harvesting basil seeds, harvesting saffron, wood harvesting, diy rain harvesting system, harvesting garlic in ontario, tools of harvesting, sweet potato harvesting, harvesting rose hips, harvesting cauliflower, harvesting grain, harvesting oats, residential rain harvesting systems, shellfish harvesting map nova scotia, harvesting catnip, hazelnut harvesting, harvesting arugula, mechanical harvesting machines, automated harvesting machines, sustainable farming, sustainable agriculture technology

The disruption of cross-border supply chains for larger industries like automotive, manufacturing, and agriculture would segment and disrupt corporations that are built on operations that are not hindered by borders.

The ripple effects from decades-long, established supply chain and labor operations would lead to an energy crisis, a shortage of goods and services, and a shortage of labor as major industries scramble to restructure operations within the confines of their nation.As industrial operations become more costly, it is consumers who necessarily are left paying more, leading to greater inflation and economic instability.

Our Stance on North American Free Trade

Here at Thunderbird Plastics, we take the stance that North American economic integration, a decades-long reality that helped establish our current industrial environments, needs to be strongly upheld. If the upcoming administration’s declarations become a reality, we are risking a trade war where a Canadian counter-tariff on U.S. imports leads to an increasingly devastating trade conflict. We encourage our clients and business partners to support free trade across North American borders by staying informed about initiatives aimed at preserving our economic stability.

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At Thunderbird Plastics, free trade is the backbone of our ability to deliver our exceptional agricultural, waste/recycling, aquaculture, and construction supplies. Keeping our costs and production streamlined allows us to innovate and allocate the resources to offer custom moulding services. Streamlined shipping costs allow our clients to receive their purchases in a timely manner and send products back to us for recycling at the end of their useful life. Explore our expertly engineered product line HERE or read about our custom moulding services HERE to bring your bespoke design to life. Call us at 888.77T-BIRD or email us at info@thunderbirdplastics.com.