I'm all for free trade agreements. Until two years ago I was living in India and was chairman of the European business group. We advocated for many years for a free trade agreement with India. So I'm a great believer in them.
Jordan is a stabilizing country in the Middle East, in a troubled area. It is a western-influenced country with very strong ties. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned that it has been invited to join the Gulf Cooperation Council and is receiving a lot of aid from the gulf countries. As Ms. Donaldson said, if you have a free trade agreement, you can bring in your own standards and influence the government to increase their standards. It gives you that influence.
It would be good for Canada. It would allow Canadian companies to come in to deploy their expertise. I have recently been involved with a number of Canadian companies, and there's a vast array of talent in your country.
I believe that Jordan is desperate for water. This is the number one problem in Jordan. It is a poorish country, and it is looking all the time for people who can help it, not just with aid but by bringing industry technology.
The apparel industry does a great deal of good for Jordan. Jordanians generally are not as gifted as the southern nations with apparel, but it provides employment for them. It provides services and uses a great number of suppliers. I read your note, and although the apparel industry uses migrant labour, it's not totally migrant labour. It provides some well-earned revenue for Jordan itself.