International Trade committee  The problem that I see is that we have to decide how to approach the United States generally with these sorts of trade disputes. From what I can see, this government has taken the approach of being very conflict-oriented from the start on everything. We elevate and escalate really quickly.

International Trade committee  I'll tell you this. I've worn many different trade hats in my life, and one of them was also working at the OECD in Paris and watching Canada negotiate there and at the WTO. I hate to tell you the truth, but for most trading partners Canada is an annoying country to negotiate with, because they already have a hard enough time negotiating with the provinces and the federal government.

International Trade committee  I don't know, and to be honest with you, I don't think so. I think there have been consultations as part of the process. In the last round I think there were consultations with first nations. But I can't say, going back to the original Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement back in 1987, or whatever it is, or NAFTA back in 1993, that there was any formal type of consultation with indigenous communities.

International Trade committee  Thank you Madam Chair for the invitation to be here with you today. As you know, my name's Mark Warner. I'm a Canadian and American trade lawyer. I have been associated with the softwood lumber file for many years, dating back to before I was a law student. I worked for the late Professor Alan Rugman at the University of Toronto.