When we conduct the negotiations on the Canada-European Union comprehensive economic and trade agreement, we are negotiating with the European Union, and their representatives are part of the European Commission, the various departments that they call directorate-general. That's the level at which we're negotiating; however, as in any negotiations, we both need to operate within negotiating mandates and the directions of the appropriate political authorities, and when it's time to try to close the negotiations, as we have seen last fall, then the involvement of the minister is important. That's why Minister Freeland spent a lot of time in the European Union at the time.
At one point it leaves the realm of what falls under trade negotiators, and in the case of the European Union, for example, you have to seek not only the support of the European Parliament but also support at the national or even the regional level in some European Union member states. That's when the political engagement on both sides is important.
Mr. Mayers can add to this in terms of the importance of regulatory contacts beyond the trade negotiations.