Order Amending Order in Council P.C. 2020-215 of April 3, 2020: SI/2020-46

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 154, Number 14

Registration

SI/2020-46 July 8, 2020

CANADA–UNITED STATES–MEXICO AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT

Order Amending Order in Council P.C. 2020-215 of April 3, 2020

P.C. 2020-497 June 25, 2020

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, pursuant to section 213 of the Canada — United States — Mexico Agreement Implementation Act, chapter 1 of the Statutes of Canada, 2020, amends Order in Council P.C. 2020-215 of April 3, 2020 by replacing “the date of entry into force of the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States” with “July 1, 2020”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

Order amending Order in Council P.C. 2020-215 to fix the date of entry into force of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement Implementation Act (the Act) as July 1, 2020.

Objective

Background

Order in Council P.C. 2020-215 fixed the date of entry into force of the Act as the day on which the Protocol replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement with the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America, and the United Mexican States, done at Buenos Aires on November 30, 2018, and the Protocol of Amendment to the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America, and the United Mexican States, done at Mexico City on December 10, 2019 (together “CUSMA”), along with related binding instruments (side letters), enter into force. Canada and Mexico sent their notifications that they had completed their internal procedures for the entry into force of the agreement respectively on April 2 and 3. On April 24, the United States notified Canada and Mexico that it had also completed its internal procedures, thereby triggering the entry into force provision of CUSMA, which established the date of entry into force as the first day of the third month following the last notification, or July 1, 2020. The present order modifies Order in Council P.C. 2020-215 to provide a specific calendar date for the date of entry into force of the Act, which is Canada’s practice for free trade agreement implementing legislation.

Implications

The amendment provides clarity and certainty regarding the date of entry into force of the Act.

Consultation

During the negotiation of the new NAFTA, the Government undertook public consultations beginning in February 2017, and held over 1 100 interactions with more than 1 300 Canadian stakeholders. The Government engaged with a broad group of stakeholders from all economic sectors, as well as traditionally under-represented groups, such as labour organizations, women, youth, Indigenous peoples, civil society organizations, and academics. The Government also received over 47 000 written submissions from Canadians.

In terms of views expressed, Canadian stakeholders have been largely supportive of the new agreement and have underlined the importance of securing stability and predictability in our commercial relationship with the United States.

Overall, provinces and territories are supportive of CUSMA, but some have raised the importance of transition support for the dairy, poultry and egg sectors.

Contact

Andrew McCracken
Director
Trade Negotiations – North America
Global Affairs Canada
Telephone: 343‑203‑4240