Fair trade. Not Free trade.
Written By: Montgomery BjornsonApril 04 2008
In the recent events of the Democratic Party debate, Senator Hilary Clinton stated that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would be up for “negotiations” if she is elected as President of the United States. Despite what our current Parliament may try to suggest to the contrary, Hilary Clinton stated during her campaign in Ohio “We will opt out of NAFTA unless we renegotiate, and we renegotiate it on terms that are favourable to all of America”. When asked if she would repeat her statement, she said “Yes, I am serious.”
So, just so we’re all on the same page, all of America would include the landmass between Canada and Mexico, if I’m not mistaken. This would insinuate that the alterations to NAFTA that would benefit America may or may not permit similar benefits to its neighbouring countries.
For those who have heard or read the ominous acronym before but have yet to be enlightened on the constitution revolving around these five letters, please allow me to give you a short debrief on this continental agreement that effects every source of our economy, government, legal system and society.
NAFTA is the expansion of the earlier free trade agreement between Canada and the United States, procured by our former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in 1988. The concept behind NAFTA was to create a trilateral treaty (equal terms for all three countries), gradually phasing out the tariffs to allow for free movement in all industries (except agriculture) throughout North America.
Now, free trade is all well and good if monitored properly and all sides hold up to their end of the bargain, however in the recent years, selected industries have negotiated on a bilateral basis, resulting in supplemental agreements that have trickled into our homes, storefronts and workplaces. For those budding entrepreneurs in our country, NAFTA has created a platform that allows foreign business to flourish while the economic prosperity of our industry youth dwindles. Our country has signed an agreement that has permitted a biased application of U.S. trade penalties against Canadian companies and we are now on the breech of being told to renegotiate on someone else’s terms.
I say enough is enough. Canada is a land of great wealth, both environmentally and socially. We are a young country who hasn’t yet been given the opportunity to feature our potential. If NAFTA is to be renegotiated, as it should, then Canadian demands must be met for a FAIR trade, so that Canada’s interests are protected and our industries and economy are given equal opportunity south of the border. It’s time that the students and workers of our country stand up for this, as the Harper government has already shown a weak back-bone when dealing with issues regarding cross-border disputes (i.e. the softwood lumber dispute).
However, the fact is that Canada doesn’t need NAFTA. We are a country that can prosper and continue to expand economically without opening our borders to an H2O-starved California or a missed opportunity for fair trade with other countries that the U.S. may not deem worthy. The World Trade Organization has a dispute settlement system superior to that of NAFTA and with the coming decades, Canada should be edging toward a global alliance of free trade and fair settlements.
So, let’s open up the negotiations, let’s proclaim our Canadian rights and set an example to the rest of the world that free and fair trade is possible and that our Government will not back down from their responsibility to Canada.
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