This paper attempts to address a number of questions about the dialogue between the public and private sector in the creation of Canadian trade policy.

A casual observer would be forgiven for concluding that these are both the best and the worst of times for eliminating barriers to international trade and investment. On the plus side, developed countries are firmly committed to the trade liberalization agenda.

This presentation was commissioned by the Trade and Integration Network of the Regional Policy Dialogue for the IV Hemispheric Meeting celebrated on September 17th and 18th, 2002.