Foreign Minister Pitches EPA, TPP and LNG in Tokyo
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird commenced his fifth visit to Japan on 27 July, with a formal dinner in the Embassy’s impressive 4th floor, attracting a Sunday evening crowd of 150 people comprised of business people representing all of Canada’s key trade sectors. Hosted by the CCCJ’s Sustaining Corporate Member Manulife, and with the support of our Chamber, the evening launched a series of talks by the Minister with counterpart officials from the Japanese government, and a keynote address to the Keidanren the following day.
The day before the event, the Minister had toured the Tokyo Gas Sodegaura Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal, and LNG was very much on the top of his agenda during his address. A close second was the Minister’s expressed hope for a successful conclusion to the Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) talks, now entering their 6th round of negotiations, and of course the Government of Canada’s support for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Baird called the CJEPA a real priority, noting that an agreement would allow Canada and Japan to bolster bilateral trade and investment opportunities, benefiting businesses and consumers in the two countries. Such a deal could contribute a sizeable boost to both the Japanese and Canadian economies, at more than US$ 4 billion and US$3 billion respectively.
Both our own Ambassador of Canada to Japan Mackenzie Clugston, and Chairman of the CCCJ’s Honorary Board of Advisors – former Ambassador of Japan to Canada – Saadaki Numata weighed in with support for an early conclusion of the EPA, and the TPP. Prodded by Ambassador Numata, the Minister said that that they should work as mutually supportive deals, to enhance greater cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, as well as benefit Canada and Japan bi-laterally.
CCCJ Chairman Wilf Wakely noted that Canada now has stiff competition in the LNG space. Wakely said later that, “We now have competition from the rest of the world, as shale gas has in the past 12 months been proven in abundance in so many other countries, including Mexico, where Prime Minister Abe has just finished a successful set of talks aimed at taking advantage of their potentially abundant Pacific coast supply. The recent Supreme Court of Canada’s Tsilhqot’in decision adds a new and powerful dimension to our challenges, as a dependable and affordable supplier of LNG and other energy. In a real sense, we are also competing with ourselves! How Canada masters these realties, including the proposed taxation schemes of the government of British Columbia, may very quickly result in a re-thinking of our pre-eminent position in the energy market.”
Minister Baird took time to make special mention of Ambassador Mackenzie Clugston’s efforts and capabilities, as Canada’s chief diplomatic representative in Japan. The Chamber of course agrees.
