Canada’s efforts to join the negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement received a boost last month when Chile agreed to support Canadian participation. In an email interview, Laura Dawson, president of Dawson Strategic, discussed Canada’s attempt to join the negotiations.
WPR: What are Canada's motivations -- political and economic -- to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and how receptive are the current members to Canada's membership bid?
Laura Dawson: The Trans-Pacific Partnership is the focal point of Canada’s external trade strategy. While three-quarters of Canadian exports still go the United States, future growth depends on trade with emerging markets in Asia and Latin America.