Canada to bring feminism to NAFTA talks in seeking new chapter on gender
OTTAWA — The Liberal government wants to bring its feminism to the North American Free Trade Agreement, building on an agreement between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump to support women entrepreneurs to get gender rights in the deal.
“Canadians broadly support free trade, but their enthusiasm wavers when trade agreements put our workers at an unfair disadvantage because of the high standards that we rightly demand,” Foreign Affairs Minister said Monday in a speech at the University of Ottawa.
“Instead, we must pursue progressive trade agreements that are win-win, helping workers both at home and abroad to enjoy higher wages and better conditions,” she said as she unveiled some of the priorities Canada is bringing to Washington, D.C. this week for the first round of NAFTA talks.
Those progressive elements should include, Freeland said, a new chapter on gender rights as part of a larger promise to promote gender equality.