Thank you very much.
I want to thank our guests for being here today to present their testimony.
My sense is that we're missing a piece here, that I haven't yet heard testimony about, and that is, what about the Canadian worker? What about taking care of our economy as well? I have huge respect for our obligations internationally, I absolutely do, but here's the circumstance: can any of our guests tell us about the change in two-way trade between Jordan and Canada in 2008 to 2009? Can any of our three guests tell us what that number is, what the change is in overall trade...?
All right. I'll assume you may not know and, respectfully, I understand that. Trade between Canada and Jordan decreased over 11% in 2008 to 2009. While that number in and of itself may not be the biggest number relative to all the trading we do in the Middle East, the fact that we have a double-digit drop should concern us all. The fact that Canada has something like 80% of the balance of trade in its favour over Jordan means that it dramatically impacts the Canadian worker over the Jordanian worker, or the guest worker, as you've indicated. But in fact, from an economic standpoint we've been penalized that much more.
What this is intended to do is to allow the elimination of tariffs immediately, by some 99% of Canadian exports to Jordan, and what does that do for us? That allows us to put quality Canadian products produced by quality Canadian workers into Jordan, and I think that's critical: that for our sake, we don't forget that we have to take care of the Canadian worker. I think that's essential.
What is that going to help? That's going to help our farmers, our manufacturers, and our agriculture and agrifood. It's going to help pulses, frozen potato products, animal feed, and beef. Folks, it matters to us, not just because of Jordan, but because of what it means. Because we have something like $11.5 billion of two-way trade between Canada and the fifteen countries in the Middle East. Please, let's not forget that: Jordan becomes the starting point.
The thing I'd like to capitalize on as one quick follow-up to what Mr. Keddy said--and I think this is important--we trade with Jordan anyway. We all know that we trade with Jordan, so why don't we have a rules-based system in place whereby we can have some influence over treating not only Jordanian workers and the International Labour Organization agreement, which, Mr. Waters, as I heard you say, is a great standard, an appropriate standard.... I appreciate that, but what does it do? It means that collective bargaining and freedom of association are guaranteed, and it means the elimination of forced labour and child labour, the elimination of discrimination in the workplace, minimum standards in employment, workplace safety, and compensation for sick and injured workers.
My point in all of that is this: is that perfect? Well, I think it's probably a far sight better, knowing that we trade with them anyway, to have some rules in place. And if we're at the table, then we have the opportunity, gentlemen, to be able to have some dialogue--