International Trade committee  Well, we didn't see it that way. We were trying to demonstrate the need, particularly after the U.S. left the agreement. Obviously the TPP was met with toxicity by some parties around the world, by interest groups. We felt that it was the view of some groups that they weren't benefiting from free trade agreements.

International Trade committee  I have to defer your question. I don't have the specifics to answer your question but we'll be happy to follow up with you.

International Trade committee  Again, this was part of the original negotiated agreement. I wish I had the specifics to answer your question today but we'll certainly respond to your questions in writing after this.

International Trade committee  Sure. In terms of the progressive elements, according to our progressive trade agenda, we had limited options available to us when we commenced negotiations to suspend the provisions. We attempted to build consensus to add new chapters on trade and gender. We looked at opportunities to highlight the benefits to indigenous peoples, but there were already, in terms of labour and the environment and SMEs, three robust chapters in the original agreement so we felt we had those progressive elements well in hand.

International Trade committee  Yes. That's right. I was just going to finish my thought. What we did try to do is advance our progressive trade agenda and incorporate progressive elements into the agreement. We managed to do that by incorporating progressive elements into the preamble of the agreement. We attempted to sign side declarations with all members, one on the importance of ISDS and the benefits in there.

International Trade committee  To be frank, it wasn't part of this discussion or this negotiation. When or if Canada legalizes marijuana and we have producers who are interested in exporting marijuana to other markets, that will certainly be up to those countries' provisions in terms of whether they would allow for—

International Trade committee  We certainly didn't have that discussion in the context of the CPTPP negotiations, and that's outside the area of what I do for a living.

International Trade committee  Do you mean the original TPP agreement?

International Trade committee  I don't think we've ever received an endorsement from the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers'...in this agreement, or most agreements, because they are concerned about the impact of eliminating our automobile tariff.

International Trade committee  Once a new trade agreement is entered into force for Canada, part of the implementation, as a result of the implementing legislation and the passing of new legislation into Canada, is that CBSA, among others, will have to be trained to recognize what the new requirements are. When you change or amend your laws in Canada, all of our inspectors or officials at the border have to be trained in these new requirements.

International Trade committee  There's nothing in the implementing legislation at present. We'd have to check in the regulations and get back to you.

International Trade committee  Well, it really depends. The answer is yes, certainly. There are gains and costs in any trade agreement. We felt that the end result of the CPTPP provided overall gains and benefits to the broad Canadian economy, including several sectors. However, we did hear concerns vis-à-vis products from Japan, specifically on autos.

International Trade committee  Absolutely. Those are two areas of focus for the youth groups we consulted with, but beyond that, I think part of it is that it's an educational process. They come at a process, and in some circles there is a perception that trade benefits big corporations and not small producers or SMEs.

International Trade committee  We didn't do any specific modelling out of our chief economist's office on job losses or gains. It wasn't part of the economic model that we ran. We were looking at the effects of trade and investment between our markets as a result of this agreement. When you increase trade or exports and increase imports at the same time, there will be job losses and gains.

International Trade committee  Well, my opinion would be that we have to prepare our exporters and producers to take full advantage of the opportunities in these markets. At this point in time, when we're still working on legislation in order to be part of this agreement, it's very difficult to predict what the future will hold.