Thank you, Mr. LeBlanc.
To answer your first question, I will quote the same feature article as Mr. Lifson has on trade liberalization and the Canadian clothing market. So I quote, as well:
Since joining the WTO in 2002, our clothing imports from China increased by nearly $1.8 billion, an 86% increase. This contrasts with a $0.8 billion drop for clothing imports from all other countries.
China's share of Canada's total clothing supply, which is comprised of imports as well as Canadian clothing manufacturing for the domestic market, has increased fivefold from 6% in 1995 to 31% in 2005. It is second only to Canadian clothing manufacturers who continue to supply 32% of the domestic market.
And then I continue:
Subsequently, in December 2001, China joined the WTO, which meant that in 2002, China's quotas increased for the first time, in accordance with the WTO's Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. As of December 31, 2004, all quotas on apparel imports from China to Canada were lifted. Consequently, in 2005, Chinese imports totalled $3 billion, nearly $2.5 billion more than imports from the US or Bangladesh and twice the value of Chinese imports in 2002. This amount represented an increase of 47% in nominal value over 2004, or an increase of approximately $1 billion.
So I think these figures you all have access to--and I can leave a copy with the clerk if you wish--state the situation.
Although imports in general are a problem, China is a specific, more extraordinary problem. I may be the first union person to come here and tell you that, yes, we should negotiate with China. This comes to your second question, because you know what? China is not going to go away. And they think Canada will have to continue to import.
We have no choice but to continue to import. We have no choice, as much as I wish we could buy only Canadian-made products in Canada and close all trade barriers. Right? That would a utopia for unions. We just can't live that way. Some people may roll their eyes. I'm saying it a bit to contrast from saying we should put the safeguards in place, send whatever notices we need to send to China to put a band-aid on this bigger problem. Because, that's right, what we are asking for is a band-aid measure. But let's start negotiations, and let's talk to China in the same way the European Union and the United States have.
We can compare to South Africa and Peru and these other countries, but let's look at who the players are who are on the same level as we are: the States and the European Union. And so they've done it, and I think we should do it as well.
Thank you.