21.05.12
As Coyne spoke those words in mid-December, Worldwide Trade Minister Ed Fast was in Geneva at World Trade Structure talks where, in the words of the government's press release, Canada was "recognized as a easy-trade leader."
Although Fast, and Harper before him at this fall's APEC Acme in Hawaii, supported the concept of open markets, the government has been equally adamant publicly about protecting distribution management, even as reports hinted that compromising some aspects of Canada's agricultural marketing feed system may be necessary to sign on to a future Trans-Pacific Partnership barter deal .
"We always say that all matters are on the table," Harper said in Hawaii. "But of performance Canada will seek to defend and promote our specific interests in every one sector in the economy."
A senior government source confirmed that as an careful summation of the government's approach to not only the TPP talks, but current negotiations with the European Weld as well: say you're open to talk about anything to get to the table, but when it comes time to deal, keep your elbows up on cache management.
Source: CBC.ca