By John Ibbitson

Last updated Monday, Feb. 06, 2012 4:46AM EST

On Tuesday, as Stephen Harper arrives in China, a delegation from Japan begins talks in Washington that could affect Canada’s trading future far more than anything that gets signed in Beijing.

The Japanese badly want to join the Trans Pacific Partnership, an ambitious set of trade negotiations between the United States and eight other Pacific nations that have gone far farther, and faster, than most observers expected. Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson said last week that he expects to see “something substantial – not a finalized agreement, but substantial – by around July.”

That doesn’t leave much time for the Japanese to get in, or for Canada, either. This country is also eager to join the TPP.

But membership has its costs, and some may not be aware how high those...

Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch

WASHINGTON - January 30 - "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.
Department of Commerce are co-hosting two days of meetings this week with
the intention of reducing regulations to encourage more trade between the
U.S. and Canada. The first day of the meeting is being held at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, which gives an indication of who would benefit from
the changes being considered.

"The proposals, which were developed by the Obama and Harper
administrations, include reducing or eliminating the regulations for
imported meat, poultry and egg products from Canada. One of the proposals
is to allow imports from Canada to go without inspection at the border and
allow imported meat, poultry and egg products to be sent directly to U.S.
processing plants. This is an unacceptable change that abandons...