As part of its Art of the State series, the IRPP has undertaken an ambitious new research initiative to examine how changing patterns of global trade and investment are affecting Canada and what this means for policy, in order to foster more effective engagement in the global economy. This research program will:
With the federal government engaged in “the most ambitious trade agenda in Canadian history,” the Institute aims to provide a solid and comprehensive base of evidence and the outline of a forward-looking policy agenda to support Canada’s full participation in the global economy.
Symposium
As part of this research initiative, in June 2014 the IRPP hosted an invitation-only symposium in Ottawa that brought together senior policy-makers, practitioners, academics and private-sector stakeholders to discuss issues affecting Canada’s trade policies. The forum was designed to provide feedback on the research in progress.
The symposium program is available here. Day 1 focused on trade empirics, theory and Canadian business strategies. Day 2 focused on trade policies. The event also featured keynote speakers Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister of International Trade, and Hanne Melin of eBay Inc.
Research in progress
This IRPP research initiative will produce over a dozen original, policy-relevant studies by leading Canadian and international trade experts, to be published in 2015. The topics will include the following:
The studies will ultimately be compiled in an edited volume entitled Adapting Canadian Trade and Commerce Policies to New Global Realities, which will include a synthesis report by the book’s editors, Stephen Tapp, Ari Van Assche and Robert Wolfe.