2009-08 (August)
Blaine Calkins - MP Report
Trade Is Key to Canada’s Prosperity
August 18, 2009
It is too early to declare the end to the recession but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Exports are up and imports are down. In addition, the manufacturing sector that has been hit hard by the global economic turmoil, recorded an unexpected increase in sales for June.
While challenging economic times still lie ahead, our Government’s number one priority is to strengthen Canada’s economy. As we work at bringing Canada out of the recession, it helps to remember the lesson of the Great Depression – to resist protectionism.
Our government believes that free and open trade must be a part of the international community’s response to the global recession so we are working to expand free and open trade with our trading partners. A time of economic downturn is also a time when you need to open the doors of opportunity for workers, for businesses, for investors. That is why Prime Minister Stephen Harper and International Trade Minister Stockwell Day are continuing to pursue opportunities with new trading partners while strengthening our relationships with existing ones.
Last year, Canada improved its trade relationship with most of its major trading partners and, in particular, with many of the world’s emerging economic powers. On August 11th, for example, the Prime Minister signed a free trade agreement with Panama. One of the initial benefits of the Panama Free Trade Agreement was Panama’s approval of Canada's meat inspection system and the lifting of the ban on Canadian beef imposed in 2003 after the BSE outbreak. Approving Canada's meat inspection system and granting of access to Canada gives our producers the ability to ship beef and pork from all federally-regulated Canadian meat establishments.
Recent trade agreements were also signed with the European Free Trade Association (Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Iceland); Peru; Columbia; Jordan; and Panama. Talks have been initiated with India and negotiations are ongoing with several countries, including the European Union, South Korea, the Central America Four, or CA4 (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua), the Caribbean Community, Singapore and the Dominican Republic. As well, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty led a delegation of key Canadian government officials and senior financial industry executives to China to strengthen economic ties and promote our financial sector.
This shows that our Government is committed to fighting for full access and fair treatment worldwide for Canadian business. Canadian exporters can now compete for markets and customers that would otherwise be out of reach.
While we are committed to seeing the Doha Round at the World Trade Organization move ahead, it is currently stalled and we simply cannot sit idly by while our exporters are facing tariffs that if lowered, would make Canadian products and services more appealing. New trade opportunities mean jobs and prosperity for Canadians.
Canada is as prosperous as it is because we are a trading nation. We have to continue to be very aggressive on the trade agenda if we are to remain a trading nation.
Please contact my Constituency office for assistance or for information on federally related matters, postage free at: #6, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, T4J 1S7, tel: (403) 783-5530; toll free: 1-800-665-0865 or visit my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca.
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