SUPPLY MANAGEMENT CANADA'S LIABILITY IN TRADE DEALS

Canada is a free-trading nation—our economy is heavily dependent on trade. Yet we retain an anachronistic system of protection for dairy, poultry and eggs. Just those sectors – no others. This anomaly has been a huge liability for Canada in every recent set of trade negotiations, including those for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Europe (ceta). Every time our trade negotiators walk into a boardroom, they’re at a disadvantage—they effectively have one hand tied behind their backs.