International Trade committee  Canada is continuing to pursue a possible Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement, which we've been pursuing since the launch of exploratory discussions three years ago. The pandemic has certainly reinforced the importance of an agreement with all of ASEAN, especially as an opportunity

International Trade committee  One year seems like a long time ago. I think you correctly recall that I would have mentioned at the time—and it still continues to be the case—that the Ottawa Group welcomes having members who are not part of the group come and use the group as a sounding board for ideas. China

International Trade committee  Unfortunately, Chair, there isn't a quick answer to that question. I think maybe it was more of a comment.

International Trade committee  There isn't really a quick answer to the member's question.

International Trade committee  Chair, I think probably the shortest answer I could give is that our trade policy is an extension of our foreign policy, so when we are considering whether to embark on a prospective negotiation or conclude a particular trade agreement, there are a lot of different considerations

International Trade committee  Chair, we have not had a negotiating round with the MERCOSUR countries now since—I'll just double-check the date—almost one year ago. This is largely due to the pandemic, which did not allow us to host a negotiating round this fall as we had originally hoped to be able to do. I

International Trade committee  This particular dispute that we have with the United States on softwood lumber is outside of my own responsibilities. If the member would appreciate more information on that, I might suggest that we maybe provide some clarification in writing. I don't specifically work on our sof

International Trade committee  As the member may be aware, right now our pulses trade is facing significant challenges, in the Indian market in particular. I think you raised one of the issues in that case, which relates to some fumigation requirements, among others. We're working very closely with our India

International Trade committee  Maybe I can just confirm, while I have the floor, that, yes, we would be happy to provide the committee with a list of all the international trade negotiations in which Canada is engaged, with all of the relevant facts and information about the first round of negotiations as well

International Trade committee  Chair, if you're in agreement, I'd be more than happy to have the department get back to the committee on this issue.

International Trade committee  Sure. As I think members will be aware, Canada has a wide network of international trade agreements—14 agreements with 51 countries. We have tried to leverage those agreements during the pandemic to be able to work with countries with which we have those agreements in place in o

International Trade committee  Sure. I'm happy to expand a bit in terms of what the impact has been of the various international engagements Canada has undertaken since the start of the pandemic to try to keep supply chains open. That has taken a number of different forms. We've led a number of international

International Trade committee  All right. I will do my best. Canada has led on a number of international statements, whether at APEC, the G20 or the WTO, with a view to encouraging other countries to keep their supply chains open and not impose trade restrictions. Our department has been tracking, since the b

International Trade committee  Sure. I'm just wondering if the question can be slightly clarified. Is the question whether or not Canada's ability to negotiate is impaired by a need to protect a particular industry or whether the question is more about Canada's ability to seek successful outcomes if another co

International Trade committee  You know what? I've been negotiating trade agreements for probably 20 years, and I don't think I have ever been part of a negotiation where we haven't had sensitivities that we had to protect. We are not a duty-free port like Singapore or Hong Kong, for example, so whether we are