International Trade committee  I just want to say that there are also regional offices to assist the private sector in Canadian provinces.

International Trade committee  It's just a follow up, sir. In relation to the exports, if you looked at our agricultural trade with Panama, the exports from Canada are about $100 million in value. So you're looking at tariff reductions that would affect that sector. What are we exporting to Panama? Pork, lentils, peas, potatoes, fats, and vegetable oil, probably canola.

International Trade committee  I will take note of the hon. member's question, since I don't know whether we received a formal reply from Panama. But I will look into that and let the committee know the answer or the status. However, within the OECD, we have seen that Panama has started to do what is necessary to move from the grey list to the white list, so to speak.

International Trade committee  I cannot say what's in those types of agreements. It is not really my area of responsibility, but I have to tell you that, based on what I have seen, the OECD representatives were pleased with Panama’s progress over the past year. I think they are on the right track. But we still have to acknowledge that, because of its location, Panama is also a conduit for cocaine and money from South America all the way to North America.

International Trade committee  The Panama Canal project is about a $5.5 billion expansion. Basically, what they're doing is deepening the canal further to allow it to take bigger container ships. Since it was developed, of course, the volume of containers and the size of container ships has grown significantly, and the big, big ships have to go down around Chile, around the bottom of South America rather than through the canal, because of limitations on size.

International Trade committee  Thank you for inviting me to join you today. My name is Neil Reeder, director general, Latin America and Caribbean. Let me also thank Mr. Keddy for his contribution to our trade programming in Central America. His visits to the region led to progress, certainly in the case of Panama and Honduras.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'm not certain I can say what to expect in the report. But essentially what they're going to tell us is a good sense, as best they can, of what transpired before the coup; what took place at the time of the coup; who said what to whom, which led to President Zelaya being forced out of the country; and then what was the situation in what we call the de facto period under Roberto Micheletti, which was an interim government until President Lobo was elected.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think we can. On funding, I should mention that Canada has given about $400,000 to the official commission to help them out, including covering Mr. Kergin's costs. We're expecting a very solid, transparent document. Michael Kergin is well known to our department. If he is sitting on that commission, I expect them to come forward with a very good document.

Foreign Affairs committee  The problem we have is that we have a non-governmental commission, which has never accepted, as you heard, a whole series of premises that we accepted. They've created a non-governmental commission that isn't recognized by the Honduran government and, I would say, by significant numbers of the Honduran public.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll just make a very quick comment first, sir, and then ask Jean-Benoit to speak. I think these are important agreements. We wish to pursue them in the Americas. I would point out that we have considerable trade with Asia-Pacific, but if you look at the web of free trade agreements, they're heavily in the Americas, interestingly enough.

Foreign Affairs committee  We are still putting pressure on the Honduras government. As part of the universal periodic review, Canada was very clear on this. We are, too. I spoke earlier about the dynamic surrounding Canadian mines. That's one of the issues. The other is the human rights situation, which is still very complicated in that country.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. We feel that, where Honduras is concerned, we need to recognize today's many challenges. We need to work with the government to improve the human rights situation, for example, but we should not deny the people of Honduras the opportunity to benefit from a free-trade agreement with us.

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I must say that I don't agree with everything expressed two weeks ago before this committee by our friends from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I visited the Canadian mines, and I respect that industry. The mines provide good jobs and good opportunities to Hondurans.

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, again, it's a pleasure to be here with my colleague, Jean-Benoit Leblanc, who is director for regional trade policy in Foreign Affairs. I am going to make some comments in English and some in French, and I will be pleased to answer your questions in the official language of your choice.

Foreign Affairs committee  I have no news about this. I must say that, since his arrival, and even yesterday, Mr. Aristide's comments have been fairly cautious. He has not asked his people to take to the streets, even though he complained that Lavalas had not been part of the campaign. I have no news about this.