This is an opinion piece of mine in the Globe & Mail (Toronto), 20 April 2021, commenting on how private sector actions – such as guidelines, standards and certifications – can affect international business and trade. These are developments that don’t depend on, and are separate from, governmental actions like statutes or treaties. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-reshoring-initiative-targets-behaviours-not-laws/
This comment deals with the legal and geopolitical ramifications of the recent EU-China investment treaty. It notes that Canada also has an investment agreement with China, concluded at a different time and when there was seen to be value in this kind of deal with China. Investment Treaty with China Raises Concerns-Globe 14 Jan 2021
This is a column of mine in the Globe and Mail (Toronto), 25 January 2021, about the Keystone XL permit cancellation, commenting on how calls for Canadian “sanctions” or “retaliation” made by the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan make no sense. As well, neither the WTO Agreement nor CUSMA provide legal justification for this kind… Read More »
This is a commentary published by The Hill Times on 10 December 2020. It deals with resources Canada can employ to confront the security risk posed by Huawei and other Chinese enterprizes seeking to invest in Canada, most of which are either State owned and controlled or under the control or influence of the Chinese… Read More »
This memo issued by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) looks at certain American trade laws and whether Canada could use some of these US models more effectively, to the benefit of open markets and Canadian commercial interests, while sticking to WTO rules. Surgical Use of Cdn Trade Laws – CGAI Nov 2020