Perhaps I can just put it in terms of how we deal with the current economic downturn.
One of the most important elements of recovery is restoring confidence. I think to restore confidence you have to give people hope that there is a better future, that we can grow, and that we can move forward, as opposed to just hunkering down and hoping for the best.
Trade talks always seem to take a long time because they involve a host of complex issues. That's understandable. It's even more understandable, obviously, at the multilateral level. I cut my teeth as a rookie journalist back at the beginning of the 1980s talking about softwood lumber. It's only in the last couple of years that this has gone away--and who knows, it may not stay away.
So I think it is particularly important when we have an opportunity like this, when we've got a deal negotiated, to act decisively to show that there is hope for a better future, that we can negotiate deals, and that we can bring down walls at a time when too many people around the world are talking about putting them back up again, even though we know that's the wrong thing to do and it's going to hurt everybody.
That element of confidence, that element of credibility, and Canada's willingness to move ahead and move in the right direction is a very important signal to send at this time.