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 »
Comments have been made in some quarters about the recently-announced 15% tax imposed by the BC government on non-resident purchases of residential property to the effect the measure might offend Canada’s obligations under the NAFTA. These come as a surprise, since few would have thought that an internal measure like this would even remotely involve… 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 »
According to the media, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is threatening another WTO case against Bombardier, challenging the $1 billion equity infusion provided for the C Series by the Quebec government and, possibly, another $1 billion under consideration from the Feds. The following are some initial impressions from reading these recent reports. Only Brazil Can… Read More »
The huge multinational tobacco conglomerate, Philip Morris (PM), was bounced out of court on 14 July 2016, in a highly controversial investment claim against tiny Uruguay, a country with a population of 4.5 million and GDP a fraction of the US$80 billion annual revenues of the US-based tobacco giant (Philip Morris v, Uruguay, Award: http://www.italaw.com/cases/460) Although… Read More »
In the 1970s, as a young diplomat, I was a member of the Canadian delegation to the UN Law of the Sea Conference. Later in private law practice, I was on the Canadian legal team in the Gulf of Maine Case before the International Court of Justice. I have advised governments and international organizations on… Read More »