Dawson Strategic

In a paper released today by the Macdonald Laurier Institute, Laura and I examine the issue of intellectual property commitments in free trade agreements. In Canada’s negotiations with the European Union and in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we face complex and difficult choices regarding pharmaceutical IP reform. The challenge is how to achieve a successful conclusion to [...]

 For more than a year, TPP partners have been holding their breath in hopes that the world’s fifth largest economy would join the negotiations.  Except for its membership in the WTO, Japan has been a reluctant player in regional and bilateral FTA fora. It has held back because of a number of domestic protectionist measures, [...]

In a paper released by the Fraser Institute as part of a collection of essays on the U.S. election,  Laura Dawson argues that Canada-U.S. economic relations have been on autopilot since the 1989 Canada-US Free Trade Agreement and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement. In light of the recent shift in economic focus towards Asia, the leaders [...]

As negotiations progress, members are drawing lines in the TPP sand box that will determine the dynamics of future negotiating rounds. When it comes to patent protection for pharmaceuticals, these lines are deep and divisive.. Although patent issues for pharmaceuticals were not discussed in the recently-concluded Auckland round, they are likely to be on the [...]

Ever since Canada got serious about seeking membership in the TPP, the spectre of eliminating supply-managed dairy has haunted the process. Domestically, the government has maintained a sharply diffuse position of defending supply management at the same time as it is putting everything on the table for consideration (National Post, 15/11/2011). Now that it has [...]

The members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership have just concluded a round of trade negotiations in Auckland, New Zealand. The group comprises 11 countries—Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam—and represents a market of nearly 658 million people with a combined GDP of $20.7 trillion. This is also [...]

Canada and Mexico officially joined the TPP negotiations on October 9. The other members are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. What are the TPP negotiations covering? What do they mean for our existing FTAs with Mexico, Peru and Chile? Is there a link with the Pacific Alliance process? [...]

Having received the blessing of US Congress on October 9th, Canada will take its seat at the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiating table in New Zealand on December 3rd for the 15th round of negotiations towards what is being dubbed a “next generation 21st century trade agreement”. Some progress has been made in areas such as market [...]

What’s next for Canada in the TPP? Join Amb. Demetrios Marantis and Laura Dawson as they  discuss the big issues and challenges of the TPP at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC  on Wednesday, August 8th. Please see here for more details. Can’t make it to DC? You can catch the panel by live webcast, here.   [...]

Television:  CBC Newsworld, Power and Politics, Trans-Pacific Partnership, June 20 Print: Calgary Herald, Canada Has Nothing to Fear From From Foreign Investment, June 24; National Post, TPP: Now the Hard Part, June 22 Radio: CBC Radio One, As It Happens, Trans-Pacific Partnership, June 19; CFAX, Murray Langdon Show, Trans-Pacific Partnership,  June 21; CHQR, Rutherford Show, Foreign Takeover Prospects for RIM, June 12 [Translate]