'Free trade' Agenda Timeline . . .

[Oscar]

Key dates in Trudeau's 'free trade' agenda timeline

[ https://canadians.org/blog/key-dates-tr ... a-timeline ]

October 21, 2017 - 7:47 pm

The Trudeau government is pursuing numerous 'free trade' agreements.

Below is a timeline of key political moments over the next several months:

October 25 - French government to unveil plans to respond to National Assembly member concerns about CETA
"Later this month, the French government will present new requirements for the implementation of CETA, ahead of the vote in the French parliament to ratify the deal. When Macron was elected, he set up a committee to examine the deal [which has] made several recommendations, introducing tighter checks on Canadian meat that could contain hormones, and to improve information for consumers on agricultural production methods. It also recommended establishing a climate 'veto', to ensure that foreign investments respect plans to reduce carbon emissions, and to monitor more closely the composition and work of the investor court system (ICS)..." - EU Observer

October 30 - deadline for public comments on TPP11
"Global Affairs Canada has launched a consultation on a potential agreement with the remaining Trans-Pacific Partnership partners." - iPolitics [ http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-co ... x?lang=eng ]

October - Trudeau cabinet decision on pursuing a Canada-China FTA
"According to a Canadian government official familiar with the matter, formal exploratory talks with China wrapped up in July. Officials are crunching numbers and are expected provide analysis to trade minister François-Philippe Champagne before the end of [September]. Cabinet could be discussing a decision by October, and Champagne could be on his way to China in December if there’s a green light, the official said." - National Post

November 10-11 - decisive moment in TPP11 talks
"The November [Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation] summit will be the milestone to see decisive action from members, potentially culminating in the signing of an agreement or on agreeing to sign one." - Vietnam Investment Review

November - economic mission to help finalize a Canada-India FIPA
"Champagne will conduct an economic mission to India next month... The mission could help finalize [a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement in 'a few months']. Ottawa is still exploring the possibility of ratifying a free trade agreement with India, but this perspective appears farther away [admits Champagne]. 'It must be said, it will be long.'" - La Presse

December 11-14 - Canada to launch FTA talks with Mercosur countries
"Canada and the South American trade bloc Mercosur [Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay] will announce in December the opening of negotiations for a free-trade deal during the World Trade Organization’s annual meeting in Argentina..." - Reuters

December - chief negotiators to meet in between NAFTA rounds
"Chief negotiators from the United States, Mexico and Canada for [NAFTA] will meet in December between official rounds of talks, Economy Ministry Ildefonso Guajardo said." - Reuters

February-March 2018 - NAFTA talks scheduled to conclude
"Negotiators, struggling to find agreement on some of the thorniest provisions of the trade deal, will take an extended break to consult with politicians and interest groups before convening again in Mexico City for the fifth round of talks [November 17-21]. The trade talks, which were supposed to wrap up by year-end, have now been extended into the first quarter of 2018, the parties said." - New York Times

June 8-9, 2018 - G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec
"[Trudeau] anticipates that the summit's top priority will be gender equality, but that talks would also focus on climate change and international trade. ...The G7 consists of the seven richest countries in the world, namely Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the United States." - CTV

For more on the Council of Canadians trade campaign, please click here:
[ https://canadians.org/trade ]


Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]