The [Canadian] federal government is launching consultations on a potential free trade agreement with China.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced the beginning of exploratory discussions in September.
Now the government says it is seeking input from individuals, businesses, civil society organizations, labour unions, academics, indigenous groups and provincial and territorial governments.
A Canada Gazette notice has more:
On September 22, 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced that Canada and China had launched exploratory discussions for a possible Canada–China Free Trade Agreement ...
Parallel to the exploratory discussions, the Government of Canada is seeking the views of Canadians on how to best proceed regarding a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This would include how to best improve market access and legal certainty and transparency for Canadian business, but also to understand any other related issues and concerns that are relevant when considering a possible FTA.
The Government is soliciting views from businesses, civil society organizations, labour unions, academia, individual Canadians, Indigenous groups, and provincial and territorial governments on objectives, key interests and potential concerns, which will help outline the parameters of a potential initiative.
If Canada can negotiate a trade agreement with China, could the U.S. negotiate one as well? Before you tell me all the reasons this can't be done, give me a few weeks to finish a paper I'm working on with a colleague explaining why it should be done.
