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In terms of Canada being less protectionist and the Europeans being less protectionist,
and making a statement and setting an example,
I tend not to think in terms of setting an example.
I think Canada should be pursuing its interests, and so should the Europeans.
And I think in that context, it’s important to understand that this negotiation
is about Canadian interests and about European interests.
It’s about Canadian benefits and about European benefits,
and it’s there that the gains will lie.
There are gains that can be made in terms of increasing
freedom of trade and increasing openness of the economy.
For Canada, in particular, [the gains entail] greater access to the European market.
It’s not just about diversification away from the American market that some people talk about.
It’s about broadening and deepening trade and economic relations more generally.
I think that is a very, very significant move.
Is it an example for others?
Potentially so!
I think there, though, the example is:
should Canada benefit, profit and have economic growth as a result, others will follow.
As for setting an example, that’s for others to consider.
“Well, this is actually not that significant.”
And the reason for that is that, sure, the EU is a big player in world trade,
and in that respect Canada has an interest in engaging in negotiation with the EU.
Canada is not so important for the Europeans, some would argue.
And the types of gains that we’re getting from the agreement
are going to be relatively minor, some would argue.
In the end, though, we are at the point in world trade negotiations where
it seems like what most people would say is the most important
forum at the global level—the World Trade Organization—
negotiations there seem to be slowed to stalled.
The other type of agreement that might be thought of as important and significant
—which would be the European Union and the U.S., two huge players in world trade—
that’s not on the table either.
In that context, even if you can argue that Canada and the European Union is not a significant portion of world trade,
it’s the best we can get now and it can be a model for the future.