Alaska Beat

Requirement to use U.S. steel in planned Alaska ferry terminal in B.C. raises Canadian ire

A rule requiring federally funded transportation projects to use American-made materials will apply to the new Alaska Marine Highway System's new ferry terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia -- a situation that's causing cross-border consternation.

The rules, known as the Buy America provisions, are intended to maximize economic benefit to American firms from federal transportation infrastructure spending. But they could mean that the ferry terminal replacement in Prince Rupert, which sits on Canadian government land, would be required to use American steel.

That's drawing criticism from federal and provincial governments in Canada. Ed Fast, Canada's Minister of International Trade, said Canada was "deeply concerned by the attempt by the U.S. to apply 'Buy American' restrictions" to the project, according to a Reuters report, while B.C. Premier Christy Clark told the CBC that the application of American protectionist policies on Canadian soil was "just not acceptable."

The Vancouver Sun spoke to Alaska DOT spokesman Jeremy Woodrow, who said the state anticipated the unusual nature of the situation and worded the invitation to bid to make the requirements clear to non-U.S. contractors: "We normally don't list in our (request for proposals) that this is a requirement when we're building transportation projects in the U.S. because it's a well know requirement," he told the Sun.

Toronto's Globe and Mail noted that the move is drawing criticism in Canada in part because it comes on the heels of another incident in which "U.S. authorities ordered the dismantling of a newly built bridge in the small town of Morrison, Colo., after discovering it contained Ontario-made steel beams, in contravention of Buy America rules. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration later backed down, and agreed to pay for the bridge."

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