Trade - Global Security

In her first call to a foreign leader since taking office, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has reassured Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about perceived U.S. protectionism in the new U.S. administration. Trudeau’s office says there was consensus on the need to avoid “the unintended consequences” of President Joe Biden’s “Buy American” policies. A White house readout of the conversation reiterated Canada’s “deep importance . . . as an economic and strategic partner.” [node:read-more:link]

A proposed House of Commons committee would have a mandate to scrutinize “all aspects” of Canada’s economic relationship with the U.S. A Conservative motion to create the committee was endorsed Feb. 16 by the Liberals, New Democratic Party and Bloc Québécois MPs in a 326-3 vote. [node:read-more:link]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden used their first bilateral meeting to promise an “ambitious new partnership roadmap, based on shared values and priorities” as their governments address climate change, the post-pandemic world and China’s detention of two Canadians in December 2019. “Job One remains keeping people safe,” the PM said today after the virtual meeting. [node:read-more:link]

The Royal Navy will acquire a new ship designed to protect strategically-vulnerable submarine cables which carry most of the world’s communications. With a crew of 15 and expected to enter service in 2024 in British and international waters, the Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship would be “be able to support with other defence tasks, including exercises and operations in the Arctic which will become an increasingly contested area.” [node:read-more:link]

Ten retired admirals have been detained for publicly criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plan for a canal project in Istanbul. They were among 104 former officers who signed a letter warning against withdrawal from an international treaty governing the strategic Bosphorus Strait. The canal would provide an alternative shipping route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.. [node:read-more:link]

Seven Chinese supercomputing companies have been added to a U.S. list of entities restricted from buying U.S. technologies without a waiver. The Bureau of Industry and Security within the Commerce Department confirmed the move April 9, saying the companies “are involved in activities that support China’s military actors, its destabilizing military modernization efforts, and/or its weapons of mass destruction.” [node:read-more:link]

The federal government has cancelled 29 export permits for Turkey after finding Canadian technology had been used in drones during the 2019 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “This use was not consistent with Canadian foreign policy, nor end-use assurances,” Foreign Minister Garneau said April 12. “Turkey is an important NATO ally and applications related to NATO cooperation programs will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.” [node:read-more:link]

Canada is being urged by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to review military export restrictions imposed after it was confirmed that Canadian technology was on drones used in the battle between Armenian and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. His ministry says Cavusoglu conveyed concerns about Canada’s stance” during a call with his Canadian counterpart, Marc Garneau. [node:read-more:link]

(2005) Marine shipments of hazardous chemical cargo may be attractive terrorist targets because of their large volume and inherent toxicity or flammability. The Maritime Transportation Security Act and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code give the U.S. Coast Guard far-ranging authority over the security of hazardous marine shipping. The agency has developed port security plans addressing how to deploy federal, state, and local resources to prevent terrorist attacks. [node:read-more:link]

The $230-million takeover of a gold mine project in Nunavut has been blocked by the federal government. TMAC Resources confirmed the decision and the government would only say that “all investments are subject to national security review . . . on a case-by-case basis.” [node:read-more:link]

Former CSIS Director Richard Fadden says recent Conservative and Liberal governments have “failed abominably” on some foreign policy issues, notably China. He told an Ottawa panel Nov. 27 that having sat in on cabinet meetings for years, he concluded that while the governments of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Conservative predecessor, Stephen Harper, tried hard to articulate policy, “they both failed abominably because there was no consensus.” [node:read-more:link]

The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, of which Canada is a member, says developments in and around the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Hormuz this year have demonstrated how marine security measures and the disturbance of shipping may have immediate and/or long-term effects on the global economy. Moreover, it points out, the fact that most critical infrastructure is privately-owned makes it difficult for governments to prepare for threats. [node:read-more:link]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declined an invitation from South Korean President Moon Jae-in to attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next month. While thanking Seoul for the invitation, North Korea asked for “understanding that we failed to find out the proper reason” for Kim to attend. [node:read-more:link]

Details are sparse but Richard Neal, the Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, is scheduled to visit Ottawa Nov. 6 for talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland about the new North American trade agreement. Neal also is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. [node:read-more:link]

In a bid to break a parliamentary deadlock over his promise to take Britain out of the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pinning his hopes and possibly his own political future on the outcome of a general election. He plans to ask the House of Commons to vote Oct. 28 on having an election Dec. 12. [node:read-more:link]