Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses today.
As has come out from several sectors, this testimony is showing that Canada is definitely behind. Just using one measure, trade, the U.S. has 1,800 deals in 49 countries and about $85 billion in trade. China has $257 billion—these are all 2022 numbers—and Canada, I believe, has around $9.4 billion in trade, so we have to play catch-up. This study is timely.
I am concerned—and I'm open to being challenged—that in our attempt to develop a strategy, we will become too broad-based.
I'll start with a question to both of you. Should Canada, as we develop this strategy, be focused and strategic or be much broader, trying to get to 54 countries and multiple sectors? There's trade, security and development. Where should we go for an overall approach?
Let's start with Professor Mandé, and then we'll go to Professor Signé.