One job in three in the Canadian economy is directly tied to our exports.
International trade fuels our economic prosperity.
In good measure because of our strong trade performance in this period, the Canadian economy created almost 1 million new jobs as our total labour force grew from 14.5 million to 15.4 million Canadians. Foreign investment also plays a key role in Canada. It is no wonder that, from the beginning, Canada has put the highest priority on an international economic and trade system that is based not on power but on the rule of law set out in a network of rights and obligations. The network of rights and obligations that form the multilateral trading system has brought unprecedented global prosperity through liberalized trade and investment. This engagement in, and commitment to, the multilateral trading system has never wavered, and the reasons are clear.