New ministerial anchoring of Canada-U.S. file is a return to regular operations, say experts
As cabinet ministers take on new roles and more voices are being added to the crucial Canada-U.S. file, experts say it is a normalization of ministerial responsibilities after the chaos of the Trump administration and the NAFTA renegotiations was met with an unconventional approach. International Trade Minister Mary Ng (Markham-Thornhill, Ont.) and Foreign Affairs Minister […]
Time to level the playing field for Canadian wine growers
In a year plagued by COVID-19, Canadian grape growers, wineries, and businesses in the hospitality, tourism and retail sectors, like their counterparts around the world, have been working with governments to address the overwhelming impacts of the pandemic. This is not surprising considering the value-added economic linkages of the Canadian wine and grape industry, which […]
Don’t expect aluminum tariffs to be removed before U.S. election, say analysts
Without the ability to impose broad-based, politically focused retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports, it is likely that tariffs on Canadian aluminum will continue at least until after the U.S. election, as the Canadian economy is being pulled into the American election cycle, according to stakeholders and experts. The American reimposition of 10 per cent national […]
‘Weak’ trade growth in 2019 caused by ‘trade policy uncertainty’ and ‘mixed economic signals’, Global Affairs report suggests
Following a year of slow economic growth in 2019 which hurt Canadian trade, a Global Affairs report on the “State of Trade” suggests that the gloomy trade news will be likely “overshadowed” by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The benchmark report on Canada’s international trade numbers, released by the office of Global Affairs’ […]
Shakedowns, bullying business, trade outrages: election-bound Trump spreads chaos far and wide
OTTAWA—Whatever your political stripe, you have to have some sympathy for Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. In the face of President Donald Trump’s plan to scrap NAFTA if it could not be renegotiated along lines more advantageous to the U.S., Freeland led Ottawa’s 18-month campaign to try to build some kind of rapport with the […]
Feds have yet to make agreed-upon changes giving Parliament greater oversight over trade deals
Despite saying it would abide by agreed-upon provisions to give Parliamentarians more oversight on trade deals, the Liberal government has yet to amend its official policy on tabling trade bills in Parliament. Those provisions include tabling notice of the government’s intent to enter into free trade negotiations in the House of Commons 90 days before […]
We must curb the wildlife trade to prevent future pandemics
TORONTO—While we look forward to the future and immunity to COVID-19, a vaccine won’t stop a pandemic from happening again. To prevent another global health and economic crisis, we must look back at how this virus emerged. It is widely acknowledged that a wildlife market in Wuhan, China, played a significant role in the outbreak […]
Freeland continues role overseeing Canada-U.S. file as Ng takes reigns of new NAFTA implementation act
While International Trade Minister Mary Ng has gained responsibility for the implementation law of the new NAFTA, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland remains the cabinet minister responsible for overseeing the ever-important Canada-U.S. relationship. Ms. Freeland has carefully stick-handled the new NAFTA through all phases of negotiations and implementation, but now that the trade pact came […]
Trudeau’s position on Meng Wanzhou shifting in the wrong direction
The prime minister is shifting his position on the possible release of Meng Wanzhou in exchange for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The shift occurred when he responded, during his regular morning press conference, to a public appeal by the family of Kovrig and a letter from Canadians experienced in such matters. […]
New NAFTA comes into force after months of testy renegotiations, but ‘disruptions’ will need to be addressed
After months of trade talks, political wrangling, and waiting, the new NAFTA is now a reality, but the coming weeks and months will have “disruptions” as exporters adjust to new trade rules, say trade observers. Dating back to 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to discard the pact that had been influencing North American trade […]
