International Trade committee  First, with respect to the importance of the U.S. market, I don't disagree with the brilliant departmental economists who put together that report.

International Trade committee  But I would note that the U.S. represents 75% of our trade, and it's an awfully long way to second place. In that regard, I think we can count on the U.S. being our most important trading partner for as far as one can see into the future.

International Trade committee  Is that permitted, sir?

International Trade committee  I would like to say, however, that less than ten years ago, it was 85% or 87% of our trade. So Canadian exporters are already moving in significant, measurable numbers to diversify Canada's trade. That can't be a bad thing. Clearly the U.S. is still job one, and that's what I sai

International Trade committee  With respect to a rush, well, we'll see how we do.

International Trade committee  If only to reiterate what I said earlier. We talk a lot in trade negotiations about levelling the playing field for our exporters, but you know we're evil mercantilists. If we can actually imbalance the playing field in our favour, we'll do that too. It's about getting advantage

International Trade committee  We have the ways. It is just that the sources of our information on investment data, like Statistics Canada, do not perhaps show the entire picture of our trade. I would not like to go so far as to say that it is tax evasion. I would prefer to say that going through other countr

International Trade committee  I think it's safe to say that.

International Trade committee  First of all, I should say that our figures on Canadian investments in India are partial. Perhaps mainly for tax reasons, at least a large percentage, though we cannot say the majority, of Canadian investments in India go through a third country, generally Mauritius and Sri Lanka

International Trade committee  Next week, when you're briefed by our colleagues in the trade commissioner service, you will hear how we use this service and our regional offices to identify opportunities for specific Canadian businesses and exporters. They will have information about new trade agreements that

International Trade committee  I'll take a crack. It's simple mathematics. If your competitor has a lower tariff or no tariff, but you pay one, they have a competitive advantage in the marketplace and will eat your lunch. I take the point of the other member, who commented that sometimes we also try to get a

International Trade committee  Perhaps the chairman is about to say you've also invited Rob Ready, who is our chief air negotiator, to address the committee and he can take you through his negotiating agenda in detail. The chief air negotiator is situated inside the trade policy and negotiations branch of th

International Trade committee  First of all, with respect to the importance of the multilateral trade negotiations, it is certainly still the policy of the Government of Canada to support multilateral trade negotiations. As I said earlier, if there is movement, Canada is there and will be there. We still under

International Trade committee  We're having some difficulty deciding who should try to address the question, since none of us really work in the trade commissioners service. It might be useful to the committee, particularly for new members, to have a briefing from the trade promotion side of the department to

International Trade committee  What an excellent idea, Mr. Chairman.