Madam Chair, I would certainly appreciate hearing some of the statements coming from the minister and reflected on the Foreign Affairs website because if one looks at the website, at least, to the statements coming out of the department and the minister, one might get a bit of a skewed perception.
I want to ask about a case in China which has been brought up already, but I just was not satisfied with the answer. This is the case of Chung Nan Chang, who is a Canadian citizen. He is in prison in China. This is a consular issue, but it is also an issue of China violating its trade obligations. Article VII of GATT is very clear about mechanisms for customs valuation and China is ignoring its trade obligations at the same time as it is imprisoning a Canadian.
Mr. Chang was told by Canadian consular officials that the government of Canada, including the trade commissioner service, “cannot interfere in the judicial affairs of another country.”
I want to know if the minister is satisfied with the response of Canadian officials to date given that statement that was given to Mr. Chang.