With regard to the specific agreement, Ms. Cherniak, a respected lawyer who presented here, said she looked at over 100 different free trade agreements with respect to shipbuilding, and that 15 years in certain cases for phase-out to occur is abnormally long in the context of free trade agreements. She went on to say that for the next three years we are today where we were yesterday. It's a great plus in the sense that we have three years of phasing in to the program. That's unusual in a free trade agreement. Normally reductions start immediately. We have things that remain the status quo for three years and then we start the phase-out. Making the best of a situation is challenging for an industry, I agree, but I think the negotiators have been able to get some wins in that situation.
One last clarification was on the issue Mr. Pugh talked about, butter and importation with agriculture products. The WTO has a restriction of 4,000 tonnes, so we're committed to allow up to 4,000 of butter into Canada at the low rate of duty. Over that it's a WTO issue, and I believe it's 299% after that. So again, I think the element with the supply management is protected fully. That's something our government is very concerned about. It is standing up and making sure that agriculture and the farmers are protected.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.