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Trade Agreements
and Negotiations -
Overview
Trade with other countries, as well as with
other Canadian jurisdictions, is a very important driver of economic
activity in British Columbia. Having
well defined rules governing trade helps ensure our trading partners are
not unfairly impeding the flow of goods and services from British
Columbia.
International Trade
As international trade falls generally
within the jurisdiction of the federal government of Canada, British
Columbia must rely on the federal government to negotiate international
agreements to the benefit of the province.
The government of British Columbia works with the federal
government of Canada to ensure the interests of this province are
represented in international negotiations and international disputes.
Canada is signatory to a number of
international trade agreements, the most important of these being the
World Trade Organization and
the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Canada is also signatory to a number of bilateral trade agreements,
such as the
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement.
There are several regional and bilateral initiatives that Canada is
currently engaged in, including the negotiation of a
free trade agreement with South Korea.
A comprehensive list of Canada's regional and
bilateral initiatives is available at International Trade Canada's
website:
Regional and Bilateral Initiatives.
International agreements all share common
elements, in that they have general overarching rules governing trade
relations between signatories, sector specific rules governing trade in
certain goods and services, and provisions to solve disputes.
Internal Trade
On
April 28, 2006, British Columbia and Alberta signed the
Trade,
Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement between British Columbia and
Alberta (TILMA) at a joint Alberta-British Columbia Cabinet meeting
in Edmonton.
The agreement gives investors, businesses and workers in both provinces
seamless access to a larger range of opportunities across all sectors.
The agreement has the potential to add $4.8 billion to real GDP and
create 78,000 new jobs in B.C. alone.
Specifically, the agreement will:
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Streamline business registration and
reporting requirements so that businesses registered in one province
are automatically recognized in the other;
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Enhance labour mobility by recognizing
occupational certifications of workers in both provinces;
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Provide open and non-discriminatory
access to government procurement; and,
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Create a clear, comprehensive and
enforceable dispute avoidance and dispute resolution mechanism.
The agreement commences April 1, 2007 and
will include a transition period to April 2009 before the agreement
comes into full effect to give both governments time to bring their
measures into conformity.
At the national level, British Columbia is also party to the
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), a trade agreement amongst provinces, territories and
the federal government. This agreement provides basic rules of trade
for many important sectors of the internal Canadian economy. The
TILMA
expands upon the
AIT, deepening and widening the obligations
between Alberta and British Columbia.
This site provides a brief overview of these
agreements and activities, and links to further resources on trade. It
also provides information on how you can consult with provincial trade
officials on the removal of barriers to trade and investment.
Trade Agreements
Trade Negotiations
Government Sites
Trade Resources
last updated December 2005
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