The manufacturing sector in Quebec and in Canada is currently in the throes of a rather serious crisis. Quebec businesses are looking to develop new export markets in leading sectors like aeronautics and machinery and equipment manufacturing for the mining industry in particular.
With respect to the automobile parts market, for example, or the truck and tractor market, some rather interesting business opportunities present themselves. This is not a traditional market like the United States, for example, a country with which our members are accustomed to doing business. You asked how our members feel about doing business with a country like Colombia. For starters, we generally do business with commercial partners. Security and other areas are a concern for some companies. However, in my opinion, the agreement presents some interesting business opportunities for Canadian companies. Having a free trade agreement in place enables...
Earlier, I mentioned that the two countries already do business with each other. We export over $700 million worth of products to Colombia. Trade levels, which are already significant, have been increasing dramatically. The issue here is how trade will be impacted by this free trade agreement.
First of all, the agreement will provide more certainty and give Quebec and Canadian companies a competitive advantage, because companies that import goods will no longer have to pay the customs tariff. Secondly, trade will be covered under the parts of the agreement that deal with the environment, human rights and social rights, something that is currently not the case. I don't quite understand your opposition to the agreement. The current situation is such that—