Canada takes another step towards ratification of new NAFTA

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has introduced in the House of Commons what is called a "ways and means motion", which paves the way for the formal presentation of a bill.

This ways and means motion is a necessary step because it deals with certain tax and financial measures that must be taken into account in the revised Canada-Mexico-US trade agreement.

"Now that tariffs have been lifted, our government intends to move forward with the ratification of the new North American Free Trade Agreement," the minister told reporters.

Wherever possible, we want to go with the United States for ratification.

Ms. Freeland added that she will soon meet with her Cabinet colleagues to update them on the draft legislation needed to ratify the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CETA), the new continental trade pact signed in November.

On May 17, the United States and its northern and southern neighbors reached agreements to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico, removing a major hurdle legislative approval of the new free trade agreement.

On the same day, Mr. Pence said he was going to Canada on May 30 to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the progress of ratification of the ACEUM.

A tight schedule

All indications are that the Liberal government wants to ratify the deal before the October federal election.

The Liberals tabled the ACEUM text in the House of Commons on December 12. The parliamentary convention requires 21 full sitting days of the House before the implementation bill can be tabled, which means that the new accord bill can now be tabled at any time.

There is very little time left for the government to pass its implementation bill: the House will soon be finished for the summer, and the House will be dissolved for the fall election campaign.

In fact, bills to implement similar trade treaties have sometimes taken longer than what remains by the end of June. Ms. Freeland said she was sure all members in the Commons understood the urgency of the situation.

But she knows that the timetable for ratification does not depend only on her.

"Of course, the coming into force of this agreement does not depend solely on Canada. The new agreement will only enter into force after ratification in each of the three countries, "she said.