Budget 2012: Increasing Economic Activity Through International Trade Measures

The Government of Canada, in its recent federal budget (Budget 2012), announced several significant new priorities and planned measures intended to have an impact on international trade and investment to and from Canada.

Several of these announcements may have an immediate impact on Canadian businesses, while several others will offer an opportunity for businesses to provide their views to the government before its plans are finalized.

In announcing these measures, the government has stated that it will:

• seek to change the focus of its strategy for negotiating international trade and investment agreements;
• modify the institutional framework of its trade remedy system;
• begin several pilot projects with the U.S. under the Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness (the Action Plan);