Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for International Trade.
The Canadian government is now negotiating a free trade agreement with the Israeli government. Current negotiations are expected to lead to an agreement that would eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers between the two countries as of January 1.
Could the minister give us a progress report on current negotiations and indicate what steps he intends to take to, for instance, give give Quebec bathing suit and lingerie manufacturers a chance to prepare for the advent of the Israelis on the Canadian market?