Michael Woods joined the head of the Government of Canada’s Trade Law Bureau, Robert Brookfield, Professor Lindsay Robertson of the University of Oklahoma and Professor James Hopkins of the University of Arizona on a panel to discuss the Indigenous elements in the Canada United States Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and the consultative process between the Government of Canada and Canada’s Indigenous communities during the NAFTA renegotiations which were launched in 2017. This was the 7th International Inter-Tribal Trade and Investment Organization (IITIO) trade conference and it was held at the University of Oklahoma Faculty of Law. Michael has served on IITIO’s executive since its founding in 2015 [https://iitio.org/ ] Michael and has colleagues on the panel discussed the details of the new agreement, “the threads of (Indigenous objectives) running through it,” as well as the future of inter- tribal trade. For more details see:...
Read MoreGlobal Perspective on U.S.-China Trade Talks
Michael Woods was interviewed for an article by U. S. based Corporate Counsel regarding the ongoing U.S. – China trade talks. His comments on the wider implications of the “heavyweight” battle can be seen at this link:...
Read MoreMichael Woods Interviewed on the Special Challenges Faced by Trade Negotiators
Recently Michael Woods was interviewed by the South China Morning Post and asked about the complexities of international trade negotiations in the light of his own GATT and WTO experience. He was quoted on his experience early in the China GATT/WTO Accession talks. The article is freely available at:...
Read MoreNew Term for Michael Woods on Algonquin College’s Program Advisory Committee
Michael Woods’ appointment to the Ottawa-based Algonquin College’s Program Advisory Committee (PAC) on International Business Management has been renewed and he looks forward to serving another two-year term. He was originally named to the PAC in 2016. The committee includes leaders from the international trade community, government, academia, and the private sector who advise the College’s faculty designing and defining the continuing development of the College’s International Business Management Programs. Michael attended the most recent meeting of the PAC on February 11, 2019, which was chaired by Professor Keith Seymour, Chair of Management Studies at the School of Business. The committee reviewed the latest developments in Algonquin College’s programs aimed at preparing Canada’s next generation of international business...
Read MoreWoods, LaFortune LLP Chairs Session on Iran Sanction at Toronto Forum on Economic Sanctions Compliance & Enforcement
Michael Woods has been invited to chair a panel on that will examine the implications of the recent divergence between U.S. sanction regulations on Iran and those of Canada and the European Union as a result of U.S. withdrawal from 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (P5 + 1”). The conference, which is to be held in Toronto from September 24-26, is being organized by the Canadian Institute in collaboration with the American Conference Institute. Leading trade practitioners from Canada, the United States, and Europe will be featured at the conference and Michael will be joined on the Iran sanctions panel by expert lawyers from the United States and the EU who will examine the intricacies of UN-driven and individual national sanctions and the issues of extraterritorial application and related “blocking” legislation. For more about the conference see: https://www.canadianinstitute.com/4th-forum-economic-sanctions-compliance-enforcement/...
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