Standing Committee on International Trade

Comité permanent du commerce international

For immediate release

Ottawa, December 12, 2017 -

Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade presented, in the House of Commons, its report entitled The Priorities of Canadian Stakeholders Having an Interest in Bilateral and Trilateral Trade Between Canada, the United States and Mexico. It contains 28 recommendations.

The Committee’s report includes recommendations relating either partially or entirely to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations in such areas as conducting consultations, market access, rules of origin, public procurement, border-related issues, regulatory cooperation, e-commerce, culture, intellectual property, dispute settlement, and NAFTA negotiating priorities regarding labour, the environment, gender and Indigenous peoples. In addition, there are recommendations about helping Canadian businesses that wish to export, Canada–U.S. trade in softwood lumber, raising awareness about the Canada–U.S. trade relationship and a potential trade agreement among the 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership countries.

“It is important for Canada to have a close and mutually beneficial trade relationship with its NAFTA partners. Many Canadian businesses trade with the United States and Mexico, and the country’s consumers thereby have access to a greater range of products. Our focus should be ensuring that the three countries will work together to increase the competitiveness of North America as a region,” said the Honourable Mark Eyking, P.C., M.P., Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Eyking concluded: “In the Committee’s view, implementing the recommendations in our report would help the Government of Canada to ensure that our country’s trade relationship with the United States and Mexico remains strong and, hopefully, becomes broader and deeper. On behalf of the Committee, I wish to thank the groups and individuals who shared their priorities regarding trade in North America.”

During its study, the Committee held 12 meetings in Ottawa, Ontario, during which it heard from 69 witnesses, and received a number of briefs and other written submissions from Canadians. In addition, the Committee travelled to seven U.S. states and Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. businesses, legislators and other Americans.

The Committee’s report can be accessed on the website.