Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Welcome, Mr. Minister, lady and gentlemen.
Negotiations in the WTO are presently at a standstill. However, it appears the department believes it is important to develop trade agreements and especially to move towards bilateral agreements with a large number of countries. Unless I am mistaken, some 20 agreements are being contemplated and negotiated.
Earlier you mentioned Korea and said that lots of data available on the department's Website show that we would be winners. But this is not the feeling among the major players, people in different sectors like the automobile and automotive parts industries and others. This is not the general feeling. Furthermore, people believe there is a lack of information to be able to properly choose the model to be used by analysts and people working on these various bilateral agreements.
It is legitimate to ensure that our companies can do business abroad and to expand, which will be good for the bottom line. We know that corporations go abroad to make money but we do not necessarily get an overall positive impact taking into account the damage caused here, in Canada and in Quebec. We do not really see concrete benefits from the various business relationships that could take shape with a number of countries. When it comes time to assess a trade agreement with a country, we should look at the overall balance of gains and losses. So let us start by evaluating those.
Everybody has concerns and doubts about these agreements. What can you say to reassure the various players?