Posts Tagged 'trade'

Guile, Ambiguity and the Cult of Mediocrity

Guile, Ambiguity and the Cult of Mediocrity

January 21, 2014

On December 5, 2013, Canada’s International Development Minister (yes, there still is one) Christian Paradis spoke to the Montreal Board of Trade about the Harper Government’s approach to foreign aid. The speech was chock-full of myth, urban legend, half-truths and what can only be described as a bunch of whoppers.

Mr. Paradis began by saying, “I want us to be recognized as a world leader in poverty reduction and humanitarian assistance.” That may be what he wants, but ...

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WTO: Bali ‘Breakthrough’

WTO: Bali ‘Breakthrough’

December 17, 2013

Criticisms of foreign aid usually come around eventually to trade and investment as the ‘real’ answer for growth, development and poverty reduction. This either/or debate, unhelpful at the best of times, was momentarily drowned out early in December by a tsunami of positive news about a breakthrough agreement reached at the World Trade Organization summit in Bali.

We have saved the WTO,’ gushed European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. The agreement represents a ‘rejuvenation of the multilateral ...

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Global Traders Need Partnerships, Not DFATD Hand-holding

December 12, 2013

The government’s new trade plan is not serious policy. It’s just repackaged old ideas, a crude political attempt to be seen to be doing something.

Let’s clarify the obvious. Canada needs to be a global trader and investor to remain a viable, competitive economy for the future. Critically, global market growth will not be in Europe or the US, but rather in developing countries with which we once had healthy trusting relationships as a development partner – something the ...

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