Provincial trade officials met in Toronto this week to find ways of further reducing trade barriers.

Manitoba's Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade Cliff Cullen took part in the two day session. He called it a productive meeting for Manitoba. “The Premiers asked the provinces to review the existing inter-provincial trade agreement to make sure barriers were removed and steps were taken to reduce red tape and regulations.”

The update deal will be up for approval by the Premiers when they meet in July.

“From time to time there are barriers and quite often it is just between two or three provinces. So the meeting this week gave the province a chance to get their issues on the table” said Cullen.

The Minister stressed all provinces have many deals with other countries so it is important there aren't any road blocks keeping provinces for doing business with each other.

“We are in pretty good shape in Manitoba when it comes to trade and the other component that will benefit Manitoba is joining the New West Partnership with Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.”