Trade Clippings - December 9 to December 14, 2013

  • December 15, 2013

Dear International Trade and Investment Committee Members, 

Here are the international trade and investment articles and publications of interest for the week of December 9 to December 14. Andrew Lanouette has curated this week’s edition. Andrew is Co-Chair of the International Trade and Investment Committee and is International Trade Counsel at Cassidy Levy Kent LLP’s Ottawa office. Should you wish to help the Newsletter sub-committee by curating an edition or provide any feedback, please send a note to Andrew Lanouette at alanouette@cassidylevy.com.

News

William Nauldin and Natasha Brereton-Fukui, "U.S.-Japan Impasse Dogs Pan-Pacific Trade Talks", The Wall Street Journal (10 December 2013)

  • Negotiations over a trade deal among 12 countries around the Pacific Ocean adjourned without an accord amid disagreements between the U.S. and Japan over agriculture and automobiles.

"TPP Trade Deal Expected in Early 2014", Reuters (11 December 2013)

  • Trade ministers from 12 countries negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement were unable to reach a deal following a four-day meeting in Singapore this week.

"India-EU free trade agreement stuck: British Minister", Business Standard (11 December 2013)

  • Discussions on the European Union (EU)-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are stuck. There have been difficulties in concluding it and India is also headed for Lok Sabha elections soon, a British minister said here Wednesday.

Meagan Fitzpatrick, "Bruce Heyman, U.S. ambassador nominee, keen to expand trade", CBC News (11 December 2013)

  • Bruce Heyman said little about Keystone pipeline at hearing, pledges to expand environmental ties.

WTO, "Appellate Body member re-appointed and Chair re-elected" (12 December 2013)

  • The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) re-appointed on 25 November 2013 Mr. Peter Van den Bossche for a second term of office as member of the Appellate Body. Mr Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández, of Mexico, has been re-elected as Chair of the Appellate Body by members of the Appellate Body.

International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, "TPP Talks Report Progress, While Missing Year-End Target" (12 December 2013)

  • The twelve countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement will be extending their talks into 2014, ministers announced on Tuesday, despite having achieved “substantial progress” during an intensive series of talks in Singapore.

Government Press Releases

DFATD, "Canada Filed Continental Shelf Submission for Atlantic Ocean, Continues Work to Define Arctic Continental Shelf" (9 December 2013)

  • On Friday December 6, 2013, Canada filed a submission regarding its Atlantic Ocean continental shelf with the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. This submission is a significant milestone in the process prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the same time, Canada filed preliminary information concerning the outer limits of its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean.

DFATD, "Harper Government Launches Consultations to Review Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy for Extractive Sector" (12 December 2013)

  • Key objectives of the review include creating jobs and opportunities, and further enhancing Canada’s strong reputation as a global leader in mining.

DFATD, "Harper Government Concludes Investment Treaty with Moldova" (21 December 2013)

  • Canadian businesses’ success abroad creates jobs and opportunities back home, says Minister Fast

Commentary and Editorials

Public Citizen, "Ecuador’s Highest Court vs. a Foreign Tribunal: Who Will Have the Final Say on Whether Chevron Must Pay a $9.5 Billion Judgment for Amazon Devastation?" (11 December 2013)

  • Investor-State Tribunal of Three Private Lawyers Ignores Years of U.S. and Ecuadorian Court Rulings, Tries to Extinguish Indigenous Communities’ Rights to Sue Chevron for Contamination

David Bercuson, "'Dollar diplomacy?' Hardly", The National Post (11 December 2013)

  • Late last month, a ”major report” was issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade announcing that henceforth, “economic diplomacy” would be the driving force behind the Canadian foreign service. Put another way: “All diplomatic assets of the Government of Canada would be marshalled on behalf of the private sector to increase success in doing business abroad.” Commentators declared that the Prime Minister was sending the diplomatic corps off to drum up business.