Michael Woods quoted in South China Morning Post on China and the CPTPP

Posted by on Jul 8, 2020

Michael Woods was interviewed with respect to China’s recent expression of interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The article can be found at this link:...

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Canada should consider the Economic Impact of Imposing AD/CV Duties on Imports and should start with OCTG

Posted by on Jan 31, 2020

Canadian practice has been to consider Anti-dumping/Countervailing measures (AD/CV) measures exclusively from the perspective of the domestic industry that filed the dumping complaint and ensure that any injury to this industry is offset using AD/CV duties.  However, this approach does not necessarily take the best interests of the Canadian economy as a whole into consideration.  That practice should stop and Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) is the product that calls out for this change....

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Proving FTA preferential tariff eligibility: The evidentiary burden in Canada

Posted by on Jan 7, 2020

Jean-Marc Clément Counsel, Woods LaFortune Montréal, Canada As is the case with most free trade agreements, importers simply claim preferential tariff eligibility at the time of import. This claim can later be subject to verification by the customs administration in view of determining if it was valid. Proving preferential tariff entitlement requires assembling and presenting relevant facts and documents that support the claim. But just how much evidence is necessary in order to discharge...

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Woods, LaFortune LLP to Attend CETA Civil Society Forum

Posted by on Nov 6, 2019

Woods, LaFortune LLP has been invited  by the Trade Agreements Secretariat at Global Affairs Canada to participate in the Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development under the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Michael Woods will attend on behalf of the firm. The event is to take place in Ottawa on November 12, 2019. The Forum is facilitated jointly by the Government of Canada and the European Union and...

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Michael Woods to Speak at CANDO Annual Conference

Posted by on Sep 30, 2019

Michael Woods is scheduled to appear on an expert panel  at the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) Annual Conference in Gatineau Québec on October 30, 2019. CANDO is a Canadian Aboriginal-controlled, community-based, and membership driven organization focusing on education and professional development for economic development officers working in Aboriginal communities and organizations. Michael will be part of a panel examining “Economic Development Opportunities in Indigenous International Trade” and he will share...

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Michael Woods Speaks at IITIO Conference – “The Indigenous Chapter is Very Much Alive.”

Posted by on Jun 7, 2019

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...

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Canada Should Revisit Safeguard Measures on Stainless Steel Wire

Posted by on Jun 5, 2019

The Minister of Finance should reconsider the decision to impose safeguard measures on imports of stainless steel wire because the recent agreement between Canada and the U.S. to remove their respective duties on each other’s steel, calls into question the Canadian International Trade Tribunal’s (CITT) threat of injury finding against stainless steel wire imports which underpins the Minister’s decision. On May 10, 2019, the Minister imposed safeguard measures on imports of stainless steel wire...

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Steel Safeguards: CITT Announces a Product Exclusion Process for Stainless Steel Wire and Heavy Plate

Posted by on May 17, 2019

On May 16, 2019, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) announced that it was initiating a Product Exclusion Review to determine whether any imports of stainless steel wire or heavy plate should be excluded from safeguard measures imposed on imports of these products. Although the CITT will only grant product exclusions in extraordinary circumstances, any interested party that imports or wants to import stainless steel wire or heavy plate into Canada from countries now...

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Canada’s Announced Support for its Steel Producers will hurt Canadian Steel Importers, Manufacturers and End-Users

Posted by on May 10, 2019

Canadian steel importers, and manufacturers and end-users who use imported steel, will be affected by the Government’s latest moves to support Canada’s steel producers because the Government’s actions promise to restrict steel imports and to increase their cost to the detriment of importers, manufacturers and end-users. On April 3, 2019, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) concluded its safeguard inquiry into seven steel products, finding that imports of heavy plate and stainless steel wire...

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Global Perspective on U.S.-China Trade Talks

Posted by on May 7, 2019

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:...

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