Overview

Economic cooperation memorandum of understanding between the Province of Ontario and the State of Nevada.

Whereas

The State of Nevada (hereinafter “Nevada”) and the Province of Ontario (hereinafter “Ontario”), collectively referred to as the “participants,” in recognition of an important trade and investment relationship and mutual interest to build upon existing partnerships; and

The participants recognize:

  • the continued need for a strong economic relationship between Canada and the United States, including between sub-national trading partners within federal focus areas, such as critical minerals and clean energy projects;
  • the advantages to be derived from the strengthening and broadening of mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between Ontario and Nevada based on historic trade and investment in the mining sector;
  • the value of close consultations and cooperation between Ontario and Nevada and the need to ensure open lines of communication and share publicly available information;
  • the importance of working together with the participants’ respective federal governments on matters of trade and investment significance; and
  • that the participants share a strong interest in expanding their existing economic partnership and building on the shared potential of emerging export opportunities within North America and across the globe.

Therefore

In the spirit of promoting closer relationships and in agreement with applicable laws, the participants express in this memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) their intention to cooperate in the following areas.

Section 1. Promotion and facilitation of bilateral trade and investment:

In line with the principle of mutual benefit, the participants affirm their shared intention to:

    1. Target the following sectors and priority areas for joint initiatives:
      1. Battery and Electric Vehicle (BEV) technology development and commercialization;
      2. Mining development and mining technology implementation;
      3. Renewable and clean energy development, implementation, and storage;
      4. Strategic supply chain and reshoring opportunities for mining and critical minerals.
    2. Work together to identify additional sectors for joint initiatives, including advanced manufacturing, mining supply and services, logistics, agriculture, and tourism.
    3. Work together to identify opportunities for strategic partnerships and alliances between private sector companies in Ontario and Nevada, which will strengthen such companies’ capacity to compete in international markets.
    4. Explore opportunities for joint trade and investment promotions, beginning with the sharing of publicly available information on priority markets and planned promotional activities, followed by the identification of possible joint trade missions to targeted markets.
    5. Support regional and federal initiatives to facilitate the efficient movement of goods and people across the international borders between Ontario and Nevada.
    6. Share publicly available information and learn from each other’s best practices and the world-class expertise found in both jurisdictions in the sectors and priority areas identified in Section 1.1.
    7. Promote common goals by encouraging cooperation and understanding between private sector companies, municipal, state/provincial and federal governments, and citizens of Ontario and Nevada.
    8. Facilitate the creation of new exchange programs or the enhancement of existing programs, as appropriate, to support collaboration between colleges, universities, and research institutions in Ontario and Nevada in areas of mutual interest, including the protection and commercialization of research-generated intellectual property; and
    9. Promote forums for thought leaders in the fields of trade and economic development from both jurisdictions to exchange information on key trends in economic development affecting Ontario-Nevada trade flows.

Section 2. Promotion of the ongoing relationship

    1. The participants recognize the benefits of ongoing, regular contacts among themselves to promote trade and economic development and environmental cooperation and to identify areas in which there are opportunities for joint formal or informal cooperation. Therefore, the participants express their shared intention to:
      1. monitor progress on the implementation of this MOU;
      2. create follow-up points each year to develop project areas outlined in the agreement. These include mining events and expos, conferences, trade shows, and trade missions;
      3. designate representatives from each of the participants to serve as principal points of policy contact and liaison to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest; and
      4. encourage relevant departments within each participant to work together with departments from the other participant to promote cooperative efforts within their respective areas of responsibility.

Section 3. Final provisions

    1. This MOU is not legally binding under the domestic law of either participant or under international law and does not create any legal, equitable, or financial rights, obligations, or liabilities for the participants.
    2. This MOU is for an initial period of three years beginning on the date of signature. The MOU may be renewed for a fixed term in writing by the participants.
    3. Either participant may cease cooperation under this MOU at any time upon written notice to the other participant.

Signatures

Signed on the 27th Day of September 2023

Joe Lombardo, Governor, State of Nevada

Doug Ford, Premier, Province of Ontario