There has been a lot of discussion about whether the Trans Pacific Partnership is a good deal for Canada. The discussion, Tom Walkom writes, is inconsequential. Business wants the TPP. And, when it comes to trade, business has always gotten what it wanted:
Canada has always based its trade policy on the needs of business. John A. Macdonald’s 19th century National Policy of protective tariffs was instituted to meet businessmen’s demands for what they called a “living profit.
In the 1970s, when Canadian businesses persuaded Ottawa that they were being overwhelmed by American corporate takeovers, Canada dabbled briefly with economic nationalism and foreign investment controls.
But by the 1980s, big business wanted something different. It told a royal commission studying the Canadian economy that it needed access to the big U.S. market.
And now business wants into the Asian market:
Last week, the Business Council of Canada, which is made up of the CEOs of 150 of the country’s largest firms, scolded the government for dragging its feet on the TPP.
Council head John Manley, a former Liberal cabinet minister, said Trudeau’s delay in agreeing to the TPP put at risk Canada’s participation in the scheme.
Manly, just back from a trip to Tokyo, said that there are already hints that the other 10 countries — Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand — might go ahead without Canada.
You can bet that Mr. Manley has Mr. Trudeau's ear. So we'll be in on the deal. But there are still big problems to be addressed -- like labour and environmental standards.
Stayed tuned.
