Annual Report – April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020

2019/2020 Highlights

Internal Trade Ministers met twice during 2019/2020 to ensure strong implementation of the CFTA and discuss progress achieved on new collaborative initiatives established under the CFTA. In May 2019, Ministers:

• Directed officials to undertake negotiations in accordance with Article 1205 with the goal of ensuring that Canadians do not receive less favourable treatment than that offered to foreign interests.

Ministers also approve the First Protocol of amendment which enables a Party to remove or narrow its own Party-specific exceptions in an expedited manner. The Protocol entered into force on December 10, 2019.

In the December conference call ministers reiterated their focus on continued negotiations and promoting freer trade.

In addition, the Annual General Meeting of the Internal Trade Secretariat Corporation (ITSC) was held via conference call in September 2019. The annual meeting of the ITSC Board of Directors to approve the budget plan took place in January 2020.

The end of the fiscal year brought challenges due to the onset of the COVID – 19 Pandemic. However, ITSC staff and government officials were able to successfully make the transition to home-based/distance-based operations.