There was a most unfortunate development in October 2016 preventing the European side from approving the Canada-EU trade agreement, formally known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). On 24 October, tiny Wallonia refused to allow Belgium to agree to the CETA, resulting in a cancellation of the planned treaty signature the same week… Read More »
Together with the 2016 Trade Remedies Primer, we’ve prepared a basic outline of Canada’s Export Controls and Economic Sanctions, to explain in clear and, hopefully, in non-legalistic terms how the system works. Like the trade remedies companion piece, it’s boiled down to the main ingredients. To get the primer, just click on the link below.… Read More »
My commentary in the 23 August 2016 edition of the Globe & Mail’s Report on Business suggests – from all the signals coming out of Washington – that the likelihood of US approval of the TPP Agreement is fading. See it here: http://bit.ly/2bM3DpD There may be a glimmer of hope but with key Congressional leaders… Read More »
Clients and friends of the firm have asked for a basic outline of the Canadian trade remedy system – meaning all about anti-dumping and countervailing duties. Here is that outline as a kind of primer, written in what I hope is plain English and with as little legal jargon as possible. Just click on the… Read More »
The World Energy Council (WEC) has a group of experts that examines trade and investment issues of significance to the energy industry, focusing on ways to reduce barriers to trade and investment in the sector. I’ve been a part of this group for a decade. Its most recent effort is a report on ways to… Read More »
CETA Held Hostage On Brexit again, what’s clear is that even with a new U.K. government in place, things are still unclear. There’s no roadmap on how all of the issues surrounding the UK leave scenario will be sorted out. In the meantime, the Canada-EU Comprehensive Trade and Economic Agreement (CETA) is held hostage to… Read More »
With the unthinkable – being increasingly discussed – of Britain withdrawing from the EU, questions are asked as to what this means for Canada. What are the implications for the Canada UK trade? And how does it affect the Canada-EU trade agreement? The answer is simple. Brexit will mean a lot of uncertainty on the trade… Read More »
Recent episodes such as the Earls Restaurant issue over so-called “humane beef” illustrate the impact of private sector standards, rules and best practices on international trade, outside the realm of governments and free-trade agreements. These industry-driven rules and “regulations” are having an increasing impact on international business. See my commentary, 13 May 2016, in the… Read More »