Canada
Report by Canada
Canada’s 2007 Report to the Trade Policy Review Mechanism which covered the period 2003 to February 2007 told a story of an expanding and energized economy in a relatively stable global economic environment. In the current period under the review (2007-2010) the global financial and economic crisis of late 2007 to 2009 posed significant challenges to the Canadian economy although it has generally proven to be robust and has rebounded solidly. This global crisisled to a sharp decline in global trade reduced Canadian exports and weakened business and consumer confidence significantly lowering employment and output. Employment in Canada fell by 427900 during that period the unemployment rate rose to 8.7 percent and real gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 3.4 percent before recovery gained a foothold in the second half of 2009. Canada has more than recouped all of the loss in output experienced during the recession – the best performance in the G-7. Furthermore Canada has more than recovered all of the jobs lost during the recession with some 467300 jobs having been created between July 2009 and January 2011.
Rapport du Canada
Le commerce joue un rôle essentiel dans l’économie du Canada un emploi canadien sur six étant directement lié aux exportations. Le Canada est fier de la part qu’il a prise dans la construction d’un ordre mondial fondé sur la primauté du droit et l’aspiration à un commerce plus libre et plus ouvert. Malheureusement l’intégrité du système commercial mondial qui a permis à de nombreux pays d’atteindre la prospérité se heurte actuellement à des difficultés sans précédent. La préoccupation croissante selon laquelle les avantages offerts par le commerce n’ont pas été répartis entre tous et les règles existantes ne reflètent plus un juste équilibre de droits et d’obligations a contribué à la montée du protectionnisme. Celle-ci s’est traduite par une augmentation des mesures restrictives pour le commerce et des actions unilatérales qui entravent et restreignent le commerce international. Les conflits bilatéraux qui donnent lieu à des politiques commerciales décidées de façon unilatérale constituent une grave menace pour le régime commercial fondé sur des règles.
Preface
The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT CONTRACTING PARTIES in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
Since its last review in 2007 Canada has taken steps to further improve the productivity and competitiveness of its economy including through unilateral trade liberalization. There are some exceptions to Canada’s generally open trade and investment regimes notably in agriculture and cultural sectors. The domestic market remains fragmented by inter alia barriers to internal trade and regulatory complexity despite the implementation of an Agreement on Internal Trade between the Federal and sub-federal governments. Moreover the Federal and provincial governments are still involved in economic (including commercial) activities particularly through Crown corporations marketing boards and foreign investment reviews.