Dear International Trade and Investment Committee Members,
Here are the international trade and investment articles and publications of interest for the week of June 16 to June 22. Andrew Lanouette has curated this week’s edition. Andrew is International Trade Counsel at Cassidy Levy Kent in Ottawa, practising in the areas of international trade law and public procurement. He is also the Co-Chair of the International Trade and Investment Committee.
News
- Quebec contributes a critical element to the financial trade relationship between Canada and the United States, says the new U.S. ambassador to Canada.
- Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has taken over during a tough time for the country as it battles with a chronic current-account deficit, an economic slowdown and dwindling international interest in the India opportunity.
- A new initiative, The Partnership for Resource Trade (PRT) is a public advocacy campaign to champion natural resources in Canada.
- WikiLeaks has published what it calls "the secret draft text for the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Financial Services Annex," apparently covering 50 countries and most of the world's trade in services.
- Russia will contest US sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine at the World Trade Organization, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday. "The United States has introduced sanctions against Russia which will have negative consequences for external trade. We have decided to challenge them at the WTO," Medvedev said in televised comments.
- After signing trade deals with South Korea and the European Union, the Harper government is turning its attention to dismantling the protectionist barriers that exist between provinces and cost the Canadian economy as much as $49-billion annually.
Government Announcements/Press Releases
- The Canadian International Trade Tribunal today initiated a preliminary injury inquiry into a complaint by Alta Steel Inc. of Edmonton, Alberta, ArcelorMittal LCNA of ContrecÅ“ur, Quebec, and Gerdau Longsteel North America of Whitby, Ontario, that they have suffered injury as a result of the dumping and subsidizing of concrete reinforcing bar from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Turkey. The Tribunal’s inquiry is conducted pursuant to the Special Import Measures Act as a result of the initiation of dumping and subsidizing investigations by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
- At the Dispute Settlement Body meeting on 18 June, the European Union rejected a request by the Russian Federation for the establishment of a panel to examine EU’s anti-dumping measures on imports from Russia. The DSB adopted panel and Appellate Body reports on the automobile and seal disputes, respectively.
- The WTO’s report on G-20 trade measures, issued on 18 June 2014, said that “G-20 members put in place 112 new trade restrictive measures during the period mid November 2013 to mid-May 2014 — slightly down from the 116 new restrictive measures introduced in the previous period from mid-May to mid-November 2013”. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said that “ it is clear that the coat of trade restrictions has grown a bit thicker over this period…this will not help our efforts to support growth and development around the world — and therefore we must remain watchful”.
- Mr. Bédard was appointed Member of the Tribunal on June 18, 2014.
- Increased engagement through trade and economic ties is one of best ways to create jobs and support positive change and sustainable economic growth in the Americas, says Minister Fast.
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement announcing further economic sanctions and travel bans against 11 Russian and Ukrainian individuals plus one additional entity: “Russia’s illegal occupation of the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine and provocative military activity remains a serious concern to the international community.”