Michael Woods Re-elected to FITT Board
On June 28th the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) confirmed that Michael Woods has been re-elected to serve a fourth term on the organization’s Board. FITT is a Canada based not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing international business training, resources and professional certification to individuals and businesses. It offers the only international business training programs and related professional designation (CITP/FIBP) endorsed by the World Trade Centers Association and the Government of Canada. Michael is...
read moreThe Trade Law Division’s 25th Anniversary – Canada’s Public Service Excellence
Both Gord LaFortune and Michael Woods had an opportunity to celebrate their trade law roots with over 150 old colleagues and a new generation trade lawyers as the Government of Canada’s Trade Law Davison celebrates its 25th anniversary on June 22, 2018. In 1993 the Department of External Affairs and International Trade (now Global Affairs Canada) and the Department of Justice (now Justice Canada) created the joint unit made up of lawyers from both...
read moreI’d Cut Down Every Law in England… !
It is almost that time of the year of for newly minted law graduates. There are days when I reflect on the growth of the rule of law in the international context and its importance for order and justice in the world. This included international trade law. But as we know the rule of law in this context remains vulnerable to local views and narrow national self-interest. When I was called to the bar...
read moreSteel, Aluminum, and the WTO’s Pandora’s Box – Part III
On May 31, 2018 the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross announced that the section 232 tariff on steel and the 10% tariff on aluminum would go into effect June 1st with respect to imports from Canada, the EU, and Mexico. All three had been give exceptions following the March 8th decision by the U.S. president to impose these measures pursuant to section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act 1962 on the basis of...
read moreSteel, Aluminum, and the WTO’s Pandora’s Box – Part II
On Thursday March 8th, President Trump followed through on his threat to impose tariffs on all of steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) on a global basis. The Proclamations on the two products are notable in that it aims to link the tariffs to the national security of the United States. “The persistent threat of further closures of domestic steel production facilities and the “shrinking [of our] ability to meet national security production requirements in...
read moreSteel, Aluminum, and the WTO’s Pandora’s Box of National Security – Part I
President Trump has followed through on his promise to impose significant tariffs on imports of steel (25%) and aluminum (10%). Canada and Mexico were exempted in the context of the ongoing tri-lateral negotiations. As the President put it; “… we’re going to hold off to see “see whether or not we’re making a deal on NAFTA.” The threat of this action and then announcement that the duties will go into force within the next...
read moreGATT Article XXI’s National Security Exception – The Ultimate Trade Policy Conundrum
[Originally published 4/9/ 2015. Updated: 3/9/2018.] Is it a necessary “safety valve” or the “ultimate threat” that could reverse and unwind the sometimes slow, but relatively constant progress in global trade liberalization? When old friend and former Foreign Service colleague, Michael Virr, invited Catherine Walsh and me to discuss trade law with his Algonquin College (Ottawa) class, the topic was the GATT national security exception, which according to some, represents “the broadest and most...
read moreCanada-EU – Old Ties, New Trade Partners
The following column was co-authored by Michael Woods and Gordon LaFortune and published today on Slaw.ca. For Canadian business, the threat of U.S. withdrawal from NAFTA is the biggest and most immediate challenge. Without progress that satisfies the U.S. Administration, the current NAFTA negotiations may end with the U.S. issuing a Notice of Withdrawal that starts the six month clock on formal U.S. withdrawal from the Agreement and the market uncertainty that will likely...
read moreGordon LaFortune and Michael Woods Join Slaw.ca as Columnists
Michael Woods and Gordon LaFortune of the Ottawa and Montreal-based international trade law firm, Woods, LaFortune LLP, are pleased to announce that they will be writing a new column for Canada’s online legal magazine Slaw.ca. Starting this Monday, February 18th, Gordon and Michael will offer bi-monthly contributions on such matters of interest as the ongoing NAFTA re-negotiations, Canada’s new trade agreements (e.g. CETA, CPTPP), current WTO cases, and latest developments in trade remedies, import...
read moreMichael Woods Attends Round Six of NAFTA Negotiations in Montreal
Participating on behalf of client stakeholders and as a member of part Global Affairs Canada Indigenous Working Group, Michael Woods attended Round Six of the NAFTA negotiation in Montreal January 22-29. During the week in Montreal, Michael had the opportunity to meet and exchange views with Canadian negotiators, the many other stakeholders in attendance, and members of the media [see photo of Michael and Don Newman]. On January 27, Michael attended a Canadian American...
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