Let me answer your first question, and that is on CETA. As we speak, our negotiators remain engaged in Brussels bridging the remaining very small handful of issues. These are difficult discussions, but our negotiators are finding creative ways of bridging the outstanding gaps.
However, I want to be very clear on this, Mr. Easter. Our conclusion of these negotiations will not be driven primarily by a calendar or a timetable. It will be driven by the quality of the deal. We have made it clear to Canadians throughout our negotiations that we will only conclude negotiations if we can say to Canadians that it is in Canada's best interests. That is the standard our government has set. It is the standard we will meet. That is the standard that also applies to South Korea.
You were quite correct in stating that those negotiations were started back in 2005. By 2007, as you know, the whole BSE crisis was in full bloom. Korea had closed its market to our beef, and they were not moving. It took this government to actually solve that issue, which we were able to resolve about a year and a half ago with the Koreans. We now have full access to their market. Until we were able to resolve that issue, it was very difficult to move forward in trying to find additional ways of deepening our trade relationship.
As you know, since that time we've had ongoing discussions with the Korean leadership as to how we might be able to continue to deepen that trade and investment relationship. They've gone through a transition of government over the last number of months. They've actually completely retooled their trade portfolio. They've included a number of other disciplines in that portfolio. It's taking some time to even find out who would be my counterpart who can actually receive instructions, or provide instructions to negotiators in terms of what can be achieved within a trade agreement negotiation with Canada.
I'm confident that we'll be able to find a way of securing the kind of outcome Canadians expect us to get. Canadians will not accept us selling out Canada's economy. You know that. I would also remind you, Mr. Easter, that over the 13 years your government was in place, you were able to secure only three free trade agreements, and they were all tiny ones—