I will now turn to another topic: excise duties. Maybe it will be the last time, Mr. Coulombe.
To go back to something mentioned earlier, I would like to point out that one of the main concerns I have been given is the increase in excise rates and the subsequent indexation based on the principle of escalating tax. This relates to the WTO's rules on international trade.
We are told that French wine producers who export their products to Canada—which are also excellent—have tolerated until now that 100% Canadian wines are exempt from excise duty. If excise duty rates increase and there is an escalation indexation, this exemption may not be tolerated by our economic partners in the wine industry.
Have you assessed the risk that the exemption for 100% Canadian wines would be challenged in the WTO as a result of this increase in excise duty rates and their subsequent indexation? Producers of French wines that export their products to Canada will experience this escalation in excise duty rates, while the exemption for Canadian wines will give Canadian wine producers an advantage over time. Have you considered the risk of this being challenged before the WTO?