Mr. Turner.
Evidence of meeting #6 for International Trade in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ukraine.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #6 for International Trade in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ukraine.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Director, Eastern Europe and Eurasia Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Again, as we've seen with the other agreements that have been discussed previously on the sovereign loan, this would be something that would be done bilaterally between the two governments rather than through the trade process.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
So there is nothing that would stop this in a trade agreement.
4:50 p.m.
Director General, Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Not that I'm familiar with, no.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Terry Sheehan Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON
I have just one very quick one. I was reading some information on the website about steel and iron ore. How might this agreement or process we're undertaking affect the steel and iron ore industry in both countries? That's through you to Jay, perhaps, or Mr. Turner.
4:50 p.m.
Director General, Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Madam Chair, I would expect that it wouldn't have a great impact at this point, because tariffs on these traded products have already been reduced. In fact—I'm just checking my list here—I believe steel products and certain iron products have already had their tariffs eliminated by Ukraine for Canadian export. We're already exporting those to them duty-free, and I believe coming back this way as well. I don't think any modernization would have an impact, because it's not touching tariffs.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thanks very much.
I want to quickly allude to what Mr. Hoback raised—which is excellent news—about the government's announcement that Canada is sending lethal weapons to Ukraine to help deter an invasion by Russia, but also to help the Ukrainians defend themselves. They're supporting that, as well, with a $500-million loan. That's an excellent sign of Canada's support for Ukraine. That, to me, reinforces what we've heard from our witnesses today—I think it was Mr. Allen who said it—that we stand with the Ukrainian people.
The free trade agreement is part of that package of things we're doing to stand with the Ukrainian people. Today's announcement is very important, obviously in the short term, and I look forward to seeing our officials continue their work with their Ukrainian counterparts to see CUFTA modernized, because it offers tremendous benefits for Ukraine and Canadians in the long term.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
I think everybody asked the questions they wanted to today, as we begin to take a look at the Canada-Ukraine trade deal and where we can go with it, so thank you very much to all of our witnesses.
The meeting is adjourned.