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Canada

As if the USMCA dairy concessions were not bad enough…
28-Oct-2018 NFU
It is deeply concerning, though not surprising, that the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has at least three chapters that formally entrench corporate influence on government decision-making.
How to make investment agreements more progressive: stop signing them
28-Oct-2018 Globe and Mail
Unverified rumours circulated in early 2018 that Canada was willing to abandon NAFTA’s provisions entitling foreign investors to sue for damages under what is called investor-state dispute settlement, or ISDS.
Liberals should consistently fight trade deals that let corporations sue Canada
21-Oct-2018 Huffington Post
Investor-state dispute settlement was tempered in the USMCA, but the government needs to justify why it persists asking for it in other agreements.
Canada, Ukraine start reviewing free trade agreement
20-Oct-2018 Ukrinform
The joint commission on the implementation of the free trade agreement between Ukraine and Canada will hold its first meeting on Friday, October 19.
Challenging the far right’s nationalist opposition to free trade deals
20-Oct-2018 Rabble.ca
Extreme right-wing, anti-immigration and Islamophobic parties tend to oppose so-called "free trade" agreements.
Inclusion of Paris Agreement in CETA at risk
9-Oct-2018 Euractiv
France wants to make compliance with the Paris Agreement on climate a precondition to signing European trade agreements. However, this is an issue where France is struggling to get the other 27 EU members to agree.
Canada ’caved’ on intellectual property provisions in USMCA trade deal, experts say
5-Oct-2018 Financial Post
Experts are fuming, saying USMCA will hamper Canada’s innovation economy and hike costs to the health care system over patented drugs.
Trade pact clause seen deterring China trade deal with Canada, Mexico
3-Oct-2018 Reuters
China’s hopes of negotiating a free trade pact with Canada or Mexico were dealt a sharp setback by a provision deep in the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement that aims to forbid such deals with “non-market” countries.
Canada, US have reached a NAFTA deal - now called the USMCA
1-Oct-2018 CBC
Canada and the U.S. have announced a tentative new trilateral trade deal with Mexico that includes some key concessions on issues of import to both countries — and also a reworked name: the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
How Trump split Mexico and Canada in NAFTA talks
27-Sep-2018 Reuters
The Mexican president-elect agreed to the US president’s request for a bilateral agreement while Canadian officials believe Mexico gave up too much in the deal.
Mexico ready to proceed with bilateral US-trade deal; Canada may join: negotiator
27-Sep-2018 France 24
Mexico is prepared to advance a bilateral trade agreement with the United States that Canada could join within the next few weeks, a top Mexican NAFTA negotiator said.
’New’ CETA tribunals - old undemocratic system
24-Sep-2018 Friends of the Earth Europe
Our analysis of the leaked draft code of conduct of CETA tribunals reveals that the same people known as ISDS arbitrators and counsellors will now take over CETA tribunals.
NAFTA deal not yet in sight, Canada stands firm on auto tariffs
21-Sep-2018 Reuters
Canada and the United States showed scant sign of closing a deal to revamp NAFTA, and Canadian officials made clear Washington needed to withdraw a threat of possible autos tariffs
Canada-EU trade, one year on: Canada’s imports are rising faster than exports
18-Sep-2018 CBC
The fastest-growing exports include inorganic chemicals, mineral fuels and oil (including crude oil) and pharmaceuticals.
Why Canada should get out of NAFTA – while it still can
18-Sep-2018 People’s World
Instead of NAFTA, we need a trade policy that is multi-lateral and mutually-beneficial with countries around the world.
It’s crunch week (again) for Nafta with US and Canada at odds
17-Sep-2018 Bloomberg
Deal likely needed Thursday for Sept. 30 trilateral deadline. Dispute panels, culture and dairy said to be sticking points.
New boots-on-the-ground trade association to boost ties between Canada, EU
14-Sep-2018 Financial Post
The Canada EU Trade Investment Association is a cross-sector industry group out to promote dealmaking.
Mexico prepared to do a trade deal without Canada, official tweets
14-Sep-2018 iPolitics
Mexico is prepared to move ahead with an updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement that does not include Canada if Ottawa and Washington cannot resolve their differences.
Canada ready to allow US dairy access in NAFTA talks: sources
12-Sep-2018 Reuters
Canada is ready to offer the United States limited access to the Canadian dairy market as a concession in negotiations to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Freeland to head back to Washington Tuesday for high-level NAFTA negotiations
11-Sep-2018 The Globe and Mail
The two sides have so far been unable to break an impasse over, among other issues, US access to the Canadian dairy market, a cultural exemption for Canada and the Chapter 19 dispute resolution mechanism.