Michael 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 moreSteel Safeguards: The First Test of Canada’s Membership in the Alliance for Multilateralism
The Government’s response to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal’s (“CITT”) decision in Steel Safeguards will be Canada’s first test as a new member of the France – Germany coalition to support international cooperation and a rules-based world trading system. Will Canada support international trade rules or will it give in to pressure from the Canada Steel Producers Association (“CSPA”) and impose safeguard measures on imported steel products in violation of those rules? On April...
read moreConsidering International Trade Law – Indigenous Perspectives & Possibilities – March 19th at the University of Ottawa
Michael Woods is scheduled to participate on a panel discussion on Indigenous perspectives and international trade law at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law on March 19, 2019. His participation reflects his ongoing involvement in the field as a member of the executive of the International Inter-tribal Trade and Investment Organization (IITIO) and the Global Affairs Canada Indigenous Working Group which advised the Government on Canada’s international trade agenda. Michael will be joined...
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...
read moreNAFTA is dead! Long live NAFTA!
Jean-Marc Clément, LL.L. – Counsel – Woods, LaFortune LPP Contact: e-mail – clement@wl-tradelaw.com; phone – 1-514-570-6144 NAFTA Redo – Trade Lawyer’s View The purpose of this article is not to paint a detailed picture of NAFTA but rather share a Canadian trade lawyer’s perspective on the evolution of a 25 year-old agreement that was recently modernized for the 21st Century. NAFTA resuscitation It’s fair to say that NAFTA received very little attention over the...
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...
read moreWoods, LaFortune LLP Chairs CBA Webinar on the Intersection of International Trade Law and Aboriginal Law
Michael Woods will serve as chair for the September 12, 2018 Intersection of International Trade Law and Aboriginal Law: Key concepts and recent developments, an upcoming Canadian Bar Association (CBA) webinar that will feature some of Canada’s leading experts in international trade law and aboriginal law. Vital issues including inter-tribal trade and the importance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will be examined. Michael has devoted much time...
read morePossible Canadian Safeguard Action Against Steel Imports: Steel Importers, Distributors Consumers and End-Users Should Take Action
Canadian firms that import, distribute, or use steel and Canadian consumers who buy products that contain steel should pay close attention to the Government of Canada’s announcement that it is considering safeguard action, including the possibility of provisional safeguards, against imports of steel plate, concrete reinforcing bar, energy tubular products, hot-rolled sheet, pre-painted steel, stainless steel wire, and wire rod imported from all countries. In most cases, if safeguard measures are adopted, duties or...
read moreNegotiation, Not Litigation is the Way to NAFTA Modernization
Rather than just negotiate NAFTA modernization, the United States is trying to use additional illegal tariffs on steel and aluminum, and now WTO litigation, to force Canada to accept its NAFTA position. The additional tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel are illegal because they exceed the U.S. WTO and NAFTA bound duty rates (i.e., the highest duty agreed between the Parties) and, thus, violate those Agreements. Canada retaliated against these U.S. tariffs with its...
read moreSteel, Aluminum, and the WTO’s Pandora’s Box – Part IV – More Analysis at Slaw.ca
The Government of Canada has finalized its countermeasures in response to U.S. Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products: https://www.fin.gc.ca/access/tt-it/cacsap-cmpcaa-1-eng.asp https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn18-08-eng.html https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d16/d16-1-1-eng.html Canada also announced support measures for the industries affected by the U.S. tariffs: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2018/06/support-for-canadian-steel-and-aluminum-workers-and-industry.html In the next few weeks, Michael Woods will be writing a series on the current state of Canada –U.S. trade on Canada’s online legal magazine Slaw.ca. Founded in 2005, Slaw is Canada’s largest co-operative legal publication attracting...
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