On December 10, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Mary Ng, announced Canada’s endorsement of the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA).[1] This APEC[2] initiative is a new and innovative plurilateral Arrangement intended to create a framework for economies and Indigenous peoples to work together to increase trade and economic cooperation. In its announcement, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) acknowledged the importance of the “close cooperation with Indigenous peoples in Canada through [its] … Indigenous Working Group on Trade Policy (IWG) and … the importance of enhancing the ability of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous businesses to benefit from the opportunities created by international trade and investment.”[3] Michael Woods has served on Global Affairs Canada’s Indigenous Working Group (IWG) since its creation in 2017. Since February 2021, when Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Chinese Taipei and other APEC economies began work towards developing the IPETCA with the focus on the economic empowerment of Indigenous peoples in the Asia- Pacific region, much work was done by IWG member participants. Michael participated in many internal GAC- IWG sessions as well as multilateral APEC meetings and precedent-setting international Indigenous-to-Indigenous consultations. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Associate Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta and Minister of Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced the conclusion of the IPETCA initiative and invited economies to declare their intention to join.[4] The IPETCA is intended to create a framework for economies and Indigenous peoples to work together to increase trade and economic cooperation. The goal is to facilitate economic cooperation across a range of areas including responsible business conduct, traditional knowledge, opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, digital trade and e-commerce, and many more. The agreement reaffirms commitments to important international instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A joint decision-making body, the Partnership Council, will enable both economy representatives and Indigenous Peoples to oversee and implement the Arrangement. ________________ [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2021/12/canada-endorses-indigenous-peoples-economic-and-trade-cooperation-arrangement.html; see also https://twitter.com/CanadaTrade/status/1469384046304186370 [2] Asia-Pacific Economic is a 21- member intergovernmental forum dedicated to promoting economic growth, and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. [ Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (apec.org)] [3] Ibid. [4]...
Read MoreFirst Anniversary of the IPECTA Agreement
This June 23, 2023, marked the 1 year anniversary of the Indigenous People’s Economic Trade and Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA), signed between Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Chinese Taipai February 2021, when these four partners and other APEC economies began work towards developing an arrangement with the focus on the economic empowerment of Indigenous peoples in the Asia- Pacific region. On December 10, 2021, the Arrangement was concluded and APEC members were invited to join. Canada endorsed the IPETCA the same day. This new and innovative plurilateral Arrangement intended to create a framework for economies and Indigenous peoples to work together to increase trade and economic cooperation. [ For more details see our website notes – Search for IPETCA – Woods, LaFortune LLP (wl-tradelaw.com)] [The text of the Arrangement – Indigenous-Peoples-Economic-and-Trade-Cooperation-Arrangement-IPETCA-FINAL-VERSION.pdf (mfat.govt.nz) ] Canada Endorses the APEC Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA) – Michael Woods Participated in Consultative Process (wl-tradelaw.com) In this photo are some of the members of the group that conducted Indigenous to Indigenous discussions on behalf of the Indigenous People of Canada. Led by Wayne Garnons-Williams, the group presented Minister of Trade, Mary Ng, with our commissioned IPETCA wampum belt. Michael Woods is the furthest on the...
Read MoreMichael Woods Invited to Canada’s Celebration of the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement
The Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Mary Ng, has invited Michael Woods to events on June 22nd and 23rd in Gatineau, Québec, organized by Global Affairs Canada to celebrate Canada’s endorsement of the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA). [https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2021/12/canada-endorses-indigenous-peoples-economic-and-trade-cooperation-arrangement.html; see also: https://twitter.com/CanadaTrade/status/1469384046304186370 ] The IPECA is an APEC initiative [ Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (apec.org)]. In February 2021, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Chinese Taipei and other APEC economies began work towards developing the IPETCA with the focus on the economic empowerment of Indigenous peoples in the Asia- Pacific region. On December 10, 2021, the Arrangement was concluded and APEC countries were invited to join. Canada endorsed the IPETCA the same day. This new and innovative plurilateral Arrangement intended to create a framework for economies and Indigenous peoples to work together to increase trade and economic cooperation. [ For more details see our website notes – Search for IPETCA – Woods, LaFortune LLP (wl-tradelaw.com)] [The text of the Arrangement – Indigenous-Peoples-Economic-and-Trade-Cooperation-Arrangement-IPETCA-FINAL-VERSION.pdf (mfat.govt.nz) ] Michael is a member of the select group which advised the Government of Canada on the negotiations with respect to Indigenous objectives. He was also involved in discussions with Indigenous representatives from other APEC economies during the process. This advisory group is scheduled to have a special session with Minister Ng following a Sacred Fire Ceremony at sunrise on June 23rd. The Celebration will close with an Endorsement Ceremony featuring Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis participants. The Celebration will kick-off with an Indigenous Trade Symposium on the afternoon of June 22nd. For more information see: Tune in live at 2 pm ET on Wednesday, June 22 for the #IPETCA Indigenous Trade Symposium and at 9 am ET on Thursday, June 23 for the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/CLAgu0UokJ — Canada Trade (@CanadaTrade) June 20, 2022 Canada Trade on Twitter...
Read MoreNational Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada
On September 30, 2021, Woods, LaFortune LLP marked National Truth and Reconciliation Day with partner, Michael Woods moderating the International Inter-tribal Trade and Investment Organization’s webinar – Get Your Skills Ready for International Trade. [ Get Your Skills Ready for International Trade – IITIO] At the outset of the webinar, Michael acknowledged the importance of the commemorating and reflecting upon the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools and his firm’s commitment to work with Indigenous communities in the process of reconciliation. Michael is a founding member of the International Inter-tribal Trade and Investment Organization IITIO which teamed up with the University of Oklahoma School of Law to provide the fifth offering in its educational series aimed at promoting and enabling increased Indigenous participation in international trade. He was joined by the CEO of the Forum for International Trade (FITT), Caroline Tompkins, and fellow IITIO member Dr. Jim Collard. Dr. Collard is Director of Economic Development of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Oklahoma. With the discussion focused on building the basic skills required to be a successful international trade practitioner. There was a special focus on the will draw on the world-class FITTSkills program. [ FITTskills Online Courses | Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) (fittfortrade.com)] In 2017 IITIO played a lead role in pushing for Indigenous involvement in Canada’s process at the outset of the NAFTA re-negotiations and was the catalyst in the creation of the Global Affairs Canada’s Indigenous Working Group (IWG). [ International Trade Agreements and Indigenous Peoples: The Canadian Approach]. Michael joined at the IWG’s creation and continues to be an active has member the group interacts with Canadian officials vis-à-vis Canada’s ongoing trade policy formulation and negotiations. He is currently donating his time to work on the APEC initiative – the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement (IPETCA)...
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