The most important areas that Canadians want protected are our health and public education systems . Canada also will not give up its right to take measures in areas of important national interest, such as culture and the environment. More than 70 percent of Canadian exporters are small and medium-sized companies. Expanding trade and investment allows Canadian companies to grow, innovate and create better jobs. Trade has helped us meet our economic goals.
Trade agreements threaten our sovereignty.
Trade agreements such as a future FTAA are contracts between countries to play by agreed rules, with fair ways for resolving disputes. Like the WTO, the FTAA would operate by consensus of its members, which are sovereign governments. Even the smallest nation has power and protection. If its case is legally stronger, it wins. Costa Rica, for example, has beaten the United States using the WTO's dispute settlement process.