MEETINGS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA MAY 10, 2019

  • March 18, 2020

Trade Law Bureau (JLT) of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Panel

Panel members:

  • Hugh Cheetham, General Counsel, Torsten Strom, General Counsel, and Stacy Paul-Healy, Deputy Director, Market Access and Trade Remedies/WTO Group of JLT (Group A)
  • Shane Spelliscy, General Counsel and Director, Investment Disputes and Services Group (Group B)
  • William Pellerin, Counsel, Softwood Lumber Group (Group L)

Key points:

  • Provided an update on ongoing free trade agreement negotiations: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA - aka NAFTA 2.0), Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), MERCOSUR and the Pacific Alliance.
  • Discussed WTO cases involving the National Security exemption in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the Canada-Australia dispute over wine regulation, challenge by Brazil against Canada in respect of certain Quebec government measures to support Bombardier, and an update on the status of the Softwood Lumber dispute with the United States.
  • Reviewed recent and ongoing investor-state disputes in which the Government of Canada is involved with.
  • Provided an update on Brexit.

Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) and Export Development Canada (EDc) Panel

Panel members:

  • David Stevenson, Vice-President of Knowledge Services, EDC
  • Gorana Filipovic, Strategic Alliances Manager, EDC
  • Ping Kitnikone, Executive Director, Regional Network and Intergovernmental Relations Division, GAC
  • Taraneh Bayat-Mokhtari, Senior Officer for CanExport, GAC 

Key points:

  • EDC Mission: support and develop trade between Canada and other countries, help Canada's competitiveness in the international marketplace, offer solutions to mitigate risk and add capacity through financing, insurance, equity, knowledge and connections and supports traditional direct exports, as well as service-based exports and companies selling into global supply chains.
  • TCS Programs to Support Canadian Companies Entering New Markets: provide Canadian businesses with on-the-ground intelligence, qualified contacts, partnership opportunities and practical advice on foreign markets, assists foreign companies to invest in Canada.
  • CanExport: provide direct financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) registered in Canada to help them develop new export opportunities and markets, especially in high-growth emerging markets.

FEMINIST INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE POLICY and the DEVELOPMENT of INTERNATIONAL LAW PANEL

Panel members:

  • Meghan Watkinson, Director, Governance and Human Rights, Global Issues and Development, GAC
  • Bianca Gucciardi Gonsalves, Deputy Director, Governance and Human Rights, Global Issues and Development, GAC

Key points:

  • Presented Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Discussed fragile states and climate change.
  • Talked about women’s voice and leadership, as well as sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHRs) and removing legal and other barriers for survivors of gender-based violence, via application of key principles such as non-discrimination, right to equality, transparency and accountability.

Prepared by Ewa Gosal