Federal report outlines hopes, skepticism on free trade with China
OTTAWA — A sweeping federal report shows that Canadian businesses aren’t sure a free trade pact will solve all the concerns they have about dealing with China.
The newly released report summarizes the issues that more than 600 businesses, academics and civil society groups believed must be resolved before Canada signs a free trade deal with China.
Among those concerns was that further liberalizing trade could kill Canadian businesses and jobs as companies can’t compete because of lax labour standards, lower environmental requirements, and state subsidies in China, the report says.
These Canadian groups were adamant that failing to address these issues would only further the hollowing out of the Canadian manufacturing sector.