Rights 'new' part of trade policy

Trade Minister Sergio Marchi hailed human rights as a "new element" of Canadian trade policy yesterday, but fudged when asked whether Canada should adopt a mandatory code of ethics suggested in a Senate report linking trade and human rights.

In his first appearance at the Commons foreign affairs and international trade committee since returning from last month's Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Malaysia, Mr. Marchi made a half-hour presentation outlining Canada's new trade objectives.

"We should be exporting our values when we export our products," said Mr. Marchi, at a meeting not noted for its talk on rights. "Human rights and social issues need to be more prominent in our trade policy.

"We're not part of the gang pulling down the chain on civil society; we're on the other side of the rope."

Long criticized for their trade-oriented approach to foreign policy, the Liberals have been touting a newfound interest in human rights since raising the issue at APEC. But opposition MPs say the government's words ring hollow.

Bloc Quebecois committee member Benoit Sauvageau said Mr. Marchi and the Liberals talk big about human rights, but refuse to make concrete commitments.

Mr. Sauvageau grilled the minister on whether he planned to create a stronger code of ethics for business than the voluntary one now in place -- a recommendation made in a report by the Senate foreign affairs committee released Tuesday.

Mr. Marchi replied that he has been working with business to improve the voluntary code of ethics and that it should apply not only to trade, but to areas of foreign policy and development assistance. However, he skirted the question of making it mandatory.

"In my travels, Canadian firms are jumping a higher bar than they have to (in Canada)," said the minister, hinting he might be less than supportive.

In response to Mr. Sauvageau's repeated requests for a yes or no answer on a mandatory code, the minister said he didn't see it as a yes or no question.

"They like all this soft talk about exporting our values but they don't engage themselves in anything concrete," said Mr. Sauvageau, adding this was the first time he can remember the minister bringing up human rights at the committee beyond a token mention.

Besides the human rights issue, Mr. Marchi explained how Canadian exports to Asia have dropped from nine per cent to 5.6 per cent of total trade as a result of the Asian economic crisis.

He called APEC a "disappointment" and lamented the failure to secure trade liberalization for eight key sectors -- an issue diverted instead to the World Trade Organization.

Mr. Marchi also talked of Canada's need to broaden its export base, create Team Canada Inc. -- a one-stop shopping trade network -- and encourage more small and medium-sized businesses to take the plunge into the export market (currently only 10 per cent do).

The minister also fielded questions on his apparent differences with Heritage Minister Sheila Copps on trade policy with the U.S. and split-run magazines, to which he replied that he has complied with the WTO's demands and supports Ms. Copps' attempts to protect Canadian culture.