Canada and the Doha Round

Canada and the Doha Round By Wendy Wong and Maelle Piquion Their position and views

Points Covered • Canada’s status and role • Issues discussed in the Doha Rounds • Issues pertinent to Canada • Why does Canada adopt these issues • Options to take

Canada’s image • Canada status as the world second largest country • Canada has a small population compared to its land mass • Canada is a exporting nation • Canada’s role in the Doha round

Issues Discussed in the Doha Rounds • Ways to implement decisions • Agriculture • Trade in Service • Market Access for Non-Agricultural Products • Intellectual property rights • Trade facilitation

Issues Discussed cont. • Negotiation on WTO rules • Review of the dispute settlement • Trade en Environment • Trade debt and finance • Trade and transfer of technology • Technical assistance and capacity building • Special and different treatment

Issues Pertinent to Canada • Focus on Agriculture • Subsidies • Market access for goods and Services • Tariff, Quotas • Dispute settlement

Agriculture • Main Goal Lowering Subsidies • Color code for lowering subsidies • Amber • Blue • Green • Canada was known as a country with very high subsidies • Canada was able to reduce 80% of their subsidies

Canadian Subsidies • For every dollar Canadian farmer earns federal provincial governments provide $3.76 subsidies.

Market access for goods and service • Lowering - tariff, - quotas and - increase market access • And increase opportunities for trade

Dispute settlement • Issues disputed • Resolving the sequencing issue, • enhancing third party right, • participation by amicus curiae, • improve efficiency of dispute settlement procedure • enhancing the surveillance function of DSB, • establishing clear post retaliation procedures • and finding effective and viable alternative to retaliation. • Reforms • the protection of business confidential information; • the streamlining of the panel selection process; and • transparency of the process in the form of hearings open to the public and publicly-available submissions

Trade Structure of Canada • Export Oriented • Sectors of Trade • Natural resources • Fish • Forestry • Agricultural goods • Energy sector • Goods • Services

Trade Structure Continued • Imports in Canada vs the rest of the world

Commitments/Concessions • Trade • Technical assistance • Funds contribution to reduce world poverty • Commitment to reduce subsidies • Leveling the playing field for all

The End • Questions???

References • http://www.urban-renaissance.org/urbanren/index.cfm?DSP=content&ContentID=2131 • http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0536-e.htm • http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/negs_bkgrnd05_intro_e.htm#presentreform • http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/2006/4_06-en.asp • www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca • www.wto.org • http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2005/trade_doha_hk_update.pdf • http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidtrade/gov/canadagov.html • “Canada’s Place In World Trade 1990-2005”, Roy, Francine Canadian Economic observer, March 2006, vol 19 no 03 • http://www.international.gc.ca/eet/pdf/SOT-2006-en.pdf • http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2004seaisland_interim/04_2004_seaisland_interim.pdf • http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/2006/4_06-en.asp

Canada and the Doha Round