I remember when the Free Trade Agreement was signed between the US and Canada...

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Of course you do remember that, Gramps, given that back in the Mulroney era you were a spring chicken in your mid-60s!!! image

Agreed. At that time (late 1980s / early 1990s), I was finishing high-school and starting university... the radical left-wing in me opposed to the NAFTA, but later, especially now that I'm a corporate whore, I came to see its benefits.

That being said, with respect to this deal with the EU, I'm not in the pro-FT or anti-FT camp (although I would wholeheartedly support a deal with the emerging APAC region countries). I'm having a terribly busy & hectic day for a Friday, so lemme just get to my point:

I'm not sure if this deal with the EU will foster commerce and business partnerships. Moreover, the macro-economic climate in the EU is horrible (a la austerity, debts, etc).

I've spoken to a few heavy-hitter Bay St. banker and foreign trade equity markets dudes Canada's foreign trade policies... and they're of the view that I share --- Let's open up our markets to foreign capital!!! image

The Cons pretend to be pro-business yet their actions are anything but --- case-in-point: nixing of the Potash takeover by BHP Billiton, the recent killing of the MTS deal and of course now rumours of a stake buyout in BlackBerry by Chinese Lenouvo will likely never come to fruition simply 'cuz the BS "net benefit" test, national security, etc. and all this BS will come into play. image

Trade with minimal or no tariffs, etc. is really peanuts, even if for some industry sectors (eg. exporting of Canadian beef & pork to the EU, in exchange they get to send their cheese, etc). These are not big fish deals that give rise to significant GDP, equity or other increases.

When "Steve" decides to open our so called "free-markets" (*chuckle*) to foreign investors like our venerable Mr. C$ and is prepared to offer His Highness Mr. C$ more stake than the joke 51%-49% nonsense, then fell free to holla a brotha like yours truly.image

JP.

SFO is sooooo the bestest city in the world!