Thank you, Mr. Chair; and thank you to our panel of witnesses.
I just want to pick up on something my colleague Mr. Keddy had alluded to. With the slow pace of the WTO talks, I think it's important that we continue to engage in these bilateral trade agreements. So I'm supportive of moving forward as we talk about a free trade agreement, and making sure it's a fair trade agreement as well.
I just recently came back from spending a couple of days in Washington. I know in your discussions you alluded to the U.S. having this agreement, and just because they have an agreement, as Mr. Bains said, it doesn't mean we have to follow suit.
They've put theirs basically in the stall mode in Congress. In speaking with representatives in the House in the past week, it's now hurry up and wait, from their perspective. If we do become first out of the gate, what kinds of advantages would that present for Canadian businesses, if we have an agreement signed prior to theirs?