Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good afternoon and welcome, Ms. Osmond.
You represent the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters. The committee has decided to focus its study on what could be called “the best possible foreign trade policy.”
Your main concern, of course, is to represent all your members, both the exporters and the importers.
I imagine that for someone specializing in import and export, there could be a relative difference between the two activities, but that the important thing ultimately is that the individual in question be able to continue to do business and to prosper.
As far as we are concerned, we are in favour of trade with other countries, but we are concerned as well about competition from emerging countries such as China and India.
We really need to develop a strategy including some very specific points in order to compete with other countries. As my Liberal colleague mentioned earlier, we must do this in a context where the manufacturing sector here, particularly in the case of exports, has not necessarily followed quickly enough the trend toward development, modernization, the acquisition of new technologies and innovation.
You talked a little about safeguards. I think they are important for Canada, to give us some time to modernize in order to move forward—whether we are talking about the furniture, apparel or other industries. Are you in favour of safeguards? The fact is that your members would perhaps import less and would probably therefore focus more on exports. What is your association's position regarding this potential dilemma involving imports, exports and safeguards?