As François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in Santiago, Chile, earlier this month, Canada’s interests were boldly underscored. In the newly inked CPTPP, Canada has since signed a number of “side instruments” with Vietnam. The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement was signed in 2004 and came into force in 2009. In September, 2014, Michael Froman announced that the Obama administration was proceeding with a labour enforcement case against Guatemala, the first ever labour dispute under a free-trade agreement. In the years before the case was lost, Michael Froman spoke eloquently about what the gold standard in trade should be.

Source: thestar March 16, 2018 16:52 UTC