International Trade

The US Has Much to Gain in Embracing Freeland’s Free-Trade Approach
- August 16, 2017
On 14 August, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland outlined Canada’s objectives for renegotiating the North American free-trade agreement in view of the negotiations that began on 16 August.

Freeland was optimistic about the real possibility of modernizing NAFTA in a …
By Patrick Leblond
Canadian Foreign Policy, International Trade, USA
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Why NAFTA’s Chapter 19 is Worth Fighting For
- July 29, 2017
Canada has reportedly drawn a “red line” over Chapter 19 as the US calls for NAFTA renegotiations. That’s a good thing.

Even before the negotiations to revise and modernize NAFTA begin on 16 August, a red line has been drawn …
By Patrick Leblond
Economy, International Trade, USA
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US Demands Won’t Lead to the NAFTA of Our Nightmares
- July 22, 2017
On July 17, the United States Trade Representative Office published the Trump administration’s detailed objectives for renegotiating the North American free-trade agreement. Contrary to President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about NAFTA in the past, the objectives document’s overall tone is very …
By Patrick Leblond
Economy, International Trade, USA
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CETA after Opinion 2/15: Legal Clarity or Confusion?
- July 13, 2017
By Jens Ladefoged Mortensen

Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen

The EU’s trading partners must wonder what goes on inside Europe. What does it take to get a trade deal done? True, trade negotiations are notoriously complex. The CETA …
By CIPS
Europe, International Trade
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Dealing with Trump, Part 2: Charm Them with Statistics
- June 2, 2017
Given the decentralized nature of power in the United States, Ottawa’s attack plan to protect NAFTA includes a significant lobbying effort with members of Congress. Armed with detailed numbers, Canadian representatives repeatedly emphasize what is probably their strongest argument: Canada …
By Thomas Juneau
Economy, International Trade
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Dealing with Trump, Part 1: Canada’s Success (So Far)
- June 1, 2017
Few countries have more to lose economically from a hostile Donald Trump administration than Canada. The country’s prosperity is largely dependent on privileged access to the US market: about 75 percent of Canadian exports are sold in the United States, …
By Thomas Juneau
Economy, International Trade
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What Joining the Arms Trade Treaty Means for Canada
- April 24, 2017
The government of Canada is about to accede to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the first and only legally binding treaty designed to regulate the multibillion-dollar global arms trade. On April 13, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the introduction …
By Srdjan Vucetic
Human Rights, International Security, International Trade
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What if Canada and Mexico Said No to Renegotiating NAFTA?
- April 7, 2017
Last week, acting United States trade representative Stephen Vaughn sent a draft notification letter to Congress indicating the President’s intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, the very same agreement that Trump qualified …
By Patrick Leblond
Canadian Foreign Policy, International Trade, Latin America
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Canada–China Free Trade Part 2: Forging an Agreement
- March 10, 2017
by John Gruetzner and Phil Calvert

A new free trade agreement with China, in whatever form it takes, should be advanced within the context of a broader strategy for Canada’s engagement with China, particularly (but not exclusively) the strategy of …
By CIPS
Asia, International Trade
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Canada–China Free Trade Part 1: Business before Politics
- March 10, 2017
by John Gruetzner and Phil Calvert

Canada and China have begun exploratory discussions on a possible free trade agreement (FTA). Expanding Canada’s economic ties with China and moving the commercial relationship forward is a positive step. If it is properly …
By CIPS
Asia, International Trade
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CANZUK: Marching Backward to Empire
- February 24, 2017
“As Prime Minister, I will actively pursue a Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand trade and security pact, including freedom to live, work, and invest in these countries.”

So says Conservative leadership candidate Erin O’Toole on his website — a bold …
By Srdjan Vucetic
Canadian Foreign Policy, International Trade
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Signing CETA is just the beginning
- November 3, 2016
Congratulations Justin Trudeau, Donald Tusk, and Jean-Claude Juncker. You have finally signed the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), only a few days later than originally planned but not after Belgium’s Walloons gave you a good scare. Congratulations …
By Patrick Leblond
Canadian Foreign Policy, International Trade
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