Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would like to ask a question to Mr. Laird.
Mr. Laird, I'm glad you brought up the significance of mining companies in Canada. Many of us tend to forget the enormous contribution that mining companies have made and continue to make in the Canadian economy and the prosperity that we enjoy today. Mining companies have a significant role in that.
You rightly highlighted the non-tariff barriers coming up in different places. For example, in Tanzania they have implemented the export ban of gold and copper concentrates. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, I believe the second-largest cobalt mine has been shut down due to the demand of the government that there be local processing. It's the same in Tanzania, which has stopped the export of copper concentrates, again insisting on domestic processing. Indonesia is banning the export of raw nickel and also imposing some export taxes. Tanzania, again, is also insisting on mandatory government inspection and special requirements for exports
The other day I was listening to the United States national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, talking about the international economic agenda. I could sense the movement from multilateral agreements to economic partnership agreements with selected countries. That seems to be the key.
With respect to Africa, we don't have free trade agreements there with the countries I just mentioned, so that, I believe, will increase the complexities faced by Canadian mining companies. Can you comment on that, please?