Backroom, Capitol Hill lobbying key to fighting possible return of tariffs, says MP Wayne Easter
As a report suggests that the U.S. is considering reimposing national security tariffs on Canadian aluminum exports, the Canadian co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group said Ottawa should persuade American officials against taking trade action away from the public eye, and should continue its outreach efforts to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and […]
Canada’s future workforce must be truly diverse and highly skilled at problem-solving
Last month, thousands of Canadian students graduated and will have to face quickly changing workforce realities. For policy makers, parents, and teachers, the “new normal” workplace and evolving labour demands should make them question if our current system is geared towards teaching young people the most relevant skills, in the most effective ways. As we contemplate the future of skills development, […]
Politics isn’t as far from extradition cases as politicians say it is
Four years ago, two Canadians were brutally murdered in the jungles of the southern Philippines. John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were captured in late 2015 by the terrorist group, Abu Sayyat and, along with others, held for ransom. They were executed a few months later when it became apparent a ransom would not be paid. Others kidnapped […]
Canada in wait-and-see mode as clock ticks down on trade agreement with the U.K.
With the months ticking away until Canada is without a free trade framework with the United Kingdom, trade experts say Canada will have to wait until its post-Brexit transition period ends before work can move forward on a free trade pact, but one says there needs to be a new bilateral trade agreement in place […]
Threat of tariffs reflect ‘protectionist’ attitudes of Trump administration, says Duclos
The Trump administration’s reported threat to re-introduce tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada is a reflection of “protectionist” approaches that could be more common in a post COVID-19 world, says Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos. Speaking to reporters on June 23 at the government’s daily briefing, Mr. Duclos (Quebec, Que.) would not confirm how realistic […]
Canada to virtually host fifth ministerial meeting of the Ottawa Group on WTO reform
As the World Trade Organization comes under heightened strain due to increasingly protectionist global actors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada is brining together 12 other members of the Ottawa Group in order to work towards building consensus around WTO reforms. Canada will host the Ottawa Group’s fifth ministerial meeting on June 15. Members of the […]
Ottawa Group has opportunity to revive WTO modernization
This month International Trade Minister Mary Ng is planning to host a virtual meeting of the Ottawa Group of 13 like-minded states dedicated to modernizing the World Trade Organization (WTO), after the Group’s March in-person meeting was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The need to modernize the WTO has been with us for some […]
Don’t forget who got us into this mess with China
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA—Amidst the fallout of the recent ruling against Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou on May 27, Canada is bracing for a deepening estrangement from an indignant China. Understandably, Canadians are angry at China’s draconian measures of retaliation. Angry that two Canadians—Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor—have been held without charges for nearly 18 months as pawns […]
Canada should re-examine U.S. relations, ‘pursue its own future’ in face of Trump’s pandemic response, say foreign policy and trade experts
Canada should respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies for the COVID-19 pandemic by becoming more self-reliant, manufacturing more of its own essential supplies, and “recalibrating” its relationship with its southern neighbour, say foreign affairs experts and a parliamentary critic. “America is putting itself first, which is natural. Why shouldn’t we behave in […]
Post-pandemic world presents real opportunity to change U.S.-Canada relationship, experts say
As the November U.S. presidential election approaches, with the prospect of a second-Trump term a real possibility, and the COVID-19 pandemic upending life on both sides of the border, some Canadian foreign policy experts say they expect the fallout from the pandemic will have a lasting effect on the bilateral relationship and the post-pandemic period […]
