International Trade and Human Rights
Over the past decade there has been growing recognition that business has a substantial impact on human rights. Responsible business practices can help promote and protect rights. Irresponsible business practices can lead directly to grave violations of a wide range of universally protected human rights.
Canada is currently a member of the World Trade Organization and is party to the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico. We have bilateral deals with Chile, Costa Rica and Israel and are currently negotiating many possible multilateral trade agreements and several other types of bilateral foreign investment protection agreements. Despite this extensive range of agreements and arrangements, the government has no clear policy recognizing that human rights are of paramount importance in trade and investment. There are no requirements that:
- human rights obligations be incorporated into these agreements
- enforcement mechanisms be established to guard against trade deals leading to human rights violations
- trade deals be subjected to rigorous human rights impact assessments
- special attention be paid to the human rights of particularly vulnerable sectors of society, including women and Indigenous peoples.
It is time to bring human rights into the very heart of Canadian trade policy. At the global level, negotiations within the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Agenda have been suspended. The impasse may provide opportunities for new approaches. Negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas have stalled, again opening space for a different approach. With global and hemispheric initiatives in a deadlock, Canadian officials are focusing on regional and bilateral trade deals. It is crucial that human rights become a focal part of those negotiations.
- The government should ensure that the main text of all trade and investment agreements that are negotiated or adopted by Canada includes explicit reference to the full spectrum of international human rights norms.
- The government should undertake human rights impact assessments of trade rules during negotiations and following the adoption of new trade agreements. Assessments should be public, independent and transparent and should pay particular attention to the plight of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors society.
TAKE ACTION:
Canada is currently negotiating a trade agreement with Colombia. Colombia has one of the worst human rights records in the western hemisphere. Take Action Now!
Updated: 18 December 2007