International Conference

Transcription

1 International Conference Socially Responsible Trade Policy in Canada and Abroad Program and description Informations Tel. (514) #3910

2 Context This international conference will compare the approaches of Canada, the European Union, the United States and Asian countries in terms of socially responsible trade policy. CEIM conducted a pan-canadian research and consultation on Canada's socially responsible trade policy in 2017 and This 2019 conference aims to internationalize the research and the dialogue by conducting a comparative analysis. The conference will be structured around two axes. The first is concerned with Labour chapters in trade agreements. Several countries link trade agreements to implementation and compliance with international labour standards. The International Labour Organization (ILO) noted the useful effect of these chapters on work in free trade agreements (ILO 2013 and 2016). The United States, Canada and the European Union, among others, have social clauses in their trade agreements. New obligations and enforcement mechanisms will be analyzed. It should be noted that particular attention will be given to the mechanisms and provisions dedicated to the participation of civil society. The second looks at The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and laws prohibiting imports of products incorporating forced labour. The industrialized countries (using the provisions of Part IV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade - GATT) offer preferential tariff schedules to developing countries. The United States and the European Union have made access to their GSP conditional on respect for a number of fundamental workers' rights. The conference will provide an overview of international practices regarding the mechanisms for the inclusion of fundamental rights at work in the GSP as well as an inventory of practices concerning the limitation of imports involving forced labour. This international conference will examine the instruments of a socially responsible trade policy, based on a comparative perspective of the approaches implemented in Canada and elsewhere in the world. It will ask the following questions: What is a socially responsible trade policy? Are the chapters of trade agreements dealing with social issues interesting levers for social progress? Are all trade agreements equal in terms of progressive agenda and social inclusion? What about CETA, the TPPGP and the CUSMA? Beyond trade agreements, are the introduction of labour obligations in Generalized Preference Systems and the prohibition of imports incorporating forced labour attractive and effective avenues to found a socially responsible trade policy? A special conference and a roundtable highlighting the Centenary of the International Labour Organization ( ) are also part of the program. In 2019, the International Labour Organization (ILO) celebrates its 100th anniversary and in this perspective, it implements seven centennial initiatives following its 2013 report Towards the 100th Anniversary of the ILO: Realities, Renewal and Tripartite Engagement. In this context, CEIM organized a roundtable and a major conference to discuss the role of the ILO in the Global Labour Governance and to determine the links between these initiatives and national trade policies and trade agreements that integrate social and ecological dimensions. The role of the ILO in the digital transition and the development of artificial intelligence will also be discussed. Can trade and globalization be progressive? The debate will also focus on how the ILO can and must act to ensure a progressive trajectory of globalization and international economic relations. 2

3 Program Montreal, February 27 th & 28 th, 2019 Omni Mont-Royal Hotel, 1050 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal (metro Peel) **Simultaneous French-English interpretation will be provided for all communications and question periods during the Conference** Day 1 - Wednesday, February 27 th, :00-9:10 am Welcoming speech Sylvain St-Amand, Director of International Relations Office (SRI-UQAM) 9:10-9:30 am L'approche canadienne en matière de commerce socialement responsable : trois accords croisés Michèle Rioux, Director of the Center for Studies on Integration and Globalization (CEIM-UQAM) 9:30-11:00 am Panel 1 - Labour in trade agreements signed by Canada 11:00-11:15 am Coffee break Chair: Geneviève Dufour (CEIM-Université de Sherbrooke) Sylvain Zini (CEIM-UQAM) L'ACEUM, un accord progressiste? Robert Finbow (Dalhousie University) From ANACT to CETA and USMCA, what Change for Labour? Kelly Pike (York University) Multistakeholder Approaches of Trade Policy. The Canadian Experience. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (EHESS) Les accords canadiens : une évaluation 11:15-12:30 pm Panel 2 - Perspectives of Civil Society regarding Socially Responsible Trade Policy Chair: Rémi Bachand (CEIM-UQAM) Jean Dalcé (Confédération des syndicats nationaux) 3

4 12:30-1:30 pm Lunch break Claude Vaillancourt (Réseau Québécois sur l intégration continentale) Louise Casselman (Public Service Alliance of Canada) 1:30-2:15 pm Special conference - Kevin Banks (Queen s University) Some Lessons from the US vs Guatemala Case Chair: Pierre Bouchard (ESDC) 2:15-4:30 pm Panel 3 - Socially Responsible Trade Agreements Abroad 4:30-4:40 pm Coffee break Chair: Sylvain Zini (CEIM-UQAM) Jean-Baptiste Velut (University of Paris, Sorbonne nouvelle) Not Fair? Redesigning the Notion of Fairness in the US Trade Policy Gerda Van Roozendaal (University of Groningen) Labour Standards in Trade Agreements; is it Symbolism that Rules? Eric Boulanger (CEIM-UQAM) Le PTPGP et le travail : perspectives asiatiques Geneviève Dufour (CEIM-Université de Sherbrooke) The CPTPP and Labour Standards: What Reaction in Case of Violation? Tanja Buzek (United Services Trade Union) European Trade Unions and the Labour Content of European Trade Policy Marley Weiss (University of Maryland) Transnational Challenges of NAFTA 2.0 and of the CPTPP 4:40-5:30 pm Panel 4 - Labour Standards and Diplomacy Chair: Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay (TÉLUQ University) Chang-Hee Lee, Director of ILO Country Office for Viet Nam (International Labour Organization) Labour Standards and Trade in Viet Nam Dominik Olewinski, Trade and Sustainable Development Unit, DG Trade (European Commission) UE Approach of Labour Provisions in Trade Agreements 4

5 Pierre Bouchard, Director of Bilateral and Regional Labour Affairs (Employment and Social Development Canada) Canadian Approach of Labour Provisions in Trade Agreements 5:30 pm Cocktail and Launching of Papers of Political Economy Address by Kim Fontaine-Skronski, Deputy Director of Institute of International Studies of Montreal (IEIM-UQAM) Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay (TÉLUQ University) Director of Papers of Political Economy Day 2 - Thursday, February 28 th, :00-10:00 am Conference - Centenary of the ILO Chair: Michèle Rioux (CEIM-UQAM) Introduction of Madame Curtis by Hugo Cyr, Doyen FSPD (UQAM) Karen Curtis, Deputy Director ILS (International Labour Organization) ILO in the global governance at its 100 th anniversary 10:00-11:30 pm Roundtable - Centenary of the ILO Chair: Sylvain St-Amand (SRI-UQAM) Participants: Karen Curtis (ILO), Chang-Hee Lee (International Labour Organization), Anne Pineau (CSN), Kelly Pike (York University), Marley Weiss (University of Maryland). 11:30-12:30 pm Special conferences Beyond trade agreements 12:30-1:30 pm Lunch break Kevin Kolben (Rutgers University) Supply Chain Approach to Trade and Labour Sophia Lin (Picard, Kentz & Rowe LLP, Washington D.C.) US GSP and Labor 1:30-3:00 pm New Perspectives on Trade Agreements Abroad Chair: Éric Boulanger (CEIM-UQAM) 5

6 Gavin Fridell (Saint Mary s University) Corporate Preference or Peoples Preference? Shifting the Bias in Trade Agreements Dimitris Stevis (Colorado State University) Contemporary US Politics and the Social Regulation of Trade Celeste Drake (AFL-CIO) AFL-CIO Strategy to Enhance Labour Rights in the Global Economy 3:00-3:15 pm Coffee break 3:15-4:15 pm Plenary - Between Competitiveness and Socially Responsible Trade Policy Combining North American, Transatlantic and Trans-Pacific Roads Chair: Sylvain Zini (CEIM-UQAM) Closing Remarks by Michèle Rioux, Director of CEIM 6

7 This International Conference is organized by Michèle Rioux, Director of CEIM Sylvain Zini, Researcher at CEIM and co-organizer Myriam-Zaa Normandin, webmaster Romain Belleville, graphic designer And Éric Boulanger, Christine Vaillancourt, Lucie France Dagenais, Maud Boisnard, Bruno Arcand, Hector Benito Torres Parra, Brandon Roy, Many Thanks to the Team! This International Conference is made possible thanks to a contribution provided by CEIM also wishes to thank its partners for their support in organizing this event 7