Washington, DC – Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) will be meeting with Ambassador Peter Scher of the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) next week to discuss the situation in the Northwest Angle of Minnesota, which Peterson contends is a violation of NAFTA and of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty.
"I have been trying to get some attention for my constituents in the Northwest Angle, and it looks like my Constitutional Amendment did the job," Peterson said.
The dispute stems from fishing regulations passed by the Ontario Provincial Government that put U.S. resort owners on the Angle at an economic disadvantage by restricting the number of fish they can catch and keep when fishing in Canadian waters.
Congressman Peterson will be asking Ambassador Scher to begin a dispute panel to examine the issue of whether this regulation from the Ontario Provincial Government is in fact a violation of NAFTA.
"For years, problems at the Northwest Angle have been ignored by both governments," Peterson continued. "These people have not been treated fairly, but next week the Trade Ambassador and I are going to sit down at the table and discuss this matter. This is definitely progress.
"I am hopeful that with the USTR involved we can finally get this process moving," Peterson concluded.
The meeting will be Wednesday, April 1, at 11:30 a.m.