Senate QP: Trade talks

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It was a few minutes delayed while things ran overtime in the Commons, but the delay was short, and soon International Trade minister Chrystia Freeland arrived to answer questions. Senator Caignan asked about the rise in American protectionist sentiment with the presidential election campaign, and wondered what she could do about it. Freeland said that the problem concerns her, and that those sentiments are dangerous and that Canada needs to fight against it, starting with maintaining strong relationships with all levels of government, noting that senators can help by using their relationships with people in positions of influence in the States. Freeland added that the wave of protectionism is related to fears of the twenty-first century economy, which is why they needed to emphasise a focus on small and medium-sized businesses and not just large corporations. Carignan asked about the ratification of CETA in order to help diversify our export market, to which Freeland noted that there are concerns about protectionism in Europe as well, and criticism of the investor-state dispute resolution mechanism, which they have made corrections to. She did state that CETA will be signed this year and ratified by the European Parliament next year.

Senator Cowan asked about how agreements like CETA and TPP affecting drug prices in Canada, and how that affects the provinces. Freeland noted that she has been devoting time to this with the health minister, and in terms of CETA, that section of the agreement would not come into effect for eight years, which would give the provinces time to make adjustments, and that there are other ways of getting to drug prices that the Europeans are already doing.

Senator Martin asked about accelerating the implementation of the trade with South Korea. Freeland noted that she was in Seoul a couple of weeks ago and that we are still playing catch-up after other countries completed their agreements first, and that she sees tremendous opportunities for things like Alberta beef and other exports, and higher education opportunities like the University of Waterloo co-op programme. Martin wanted to hear more about what has been achieved with the agreement so far and what specific outcomes came of the trip, but Freeland stuck mostly to generalities.

Senator Johnson asked investor-state dispute resolution (TPP notwithstanding), and Freeland noted the changes made in CETA including ensuring that arbitration judges not be currently sitting on corporate boards, and being selected at random from a roster to ensure impartiality, and noted that the point of the system is to ensure that foreign companies are not discriminated against because they are foreign. Freeland also noted how they are using those principles for trade modernisation with Chile, and helping the Mexican government with their own European negotiations.

Senator Moore noted the upcoming Senate committee trip to Washington, and Freeland first returned to the importance of the engagement of American senators and having those relationships, and her own trilateral trade ministers’ meetings, which is looking toward regulatory harmony with Mexico as well as the US.

Senator Ringuette asked about the shrinking size of the export market, and Freeland responded about things like globalisation allowing small businesses to export immediately, relaying an anecdote about a conversation she had with the founder of Shopify. Ringuette also asked about companies trading with Cuba that are subject to US sanctions, and Freeland noted that she was engaged on the issue.

Senator Mockler asked about the softwood lumber agreement and the maritime exemptions to the agreement. Freeland assured him that they were looking for a good agreement, not just any agreement.

Overall, it was a really interesting session if you were interested in the topic, and Freeland gave long and detailed answers that didn’t ramble unlike some previous ministers. The discussion around the changes to the investor-state dispute resolution mechanisms were also particularly illuminating and it would be great if we could have this kind of exchange over in the Commons, where there has been some absolute hysteria over this particular clause in the European trade agreement, and with the TPP as well.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Elizabeth Marshall for a white dress with black and coloured rectangular shapes and a fuchsia jacket, and to Senator Peter Harder for a medium grey three-piece suit with a crisp white shirt and a blue tie. Style citations go out to Senator Don Plett for a brown checked jacket with an off-white shirt and a taupe tie, and to Senator Pierrette Ringuette for a black dress with a panel across the front that started out grey and progressed to increasingly wide horizontal stripes with a pink panel at the bottom, with a hot mess of a multicoloured shawl that had tassels on the corners.