The NAFTA Negotiations: Where Canada Stands Now

At this closed door roundtable discussion, Raymond Bachand, Quebec's chief negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), addressed current trade among Canada, Mexico and the U.S.; Canada's role in NAFTA; and the impact of the NAFTA renegotation on trade among the three countries and on Canada-Texas trade. Attendance at this event was by invitation only.

This event was co-sponsored by the Baker Institute Mexico Center and the Quebec Government Office in Houston.

Agenda

8:30 am			Breakfast and Registration
9:00 am			Welcome Tony Payan, Ph.D. Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Mexico Center, Baker Institute
9:05 am			Introduction of Speaker Daniel Dignard Director, Québec Government Office in Houston
9:10 am			Remarks The NAFTA Negotiations: Where Canada Stands Now His Excellency Raymond Bachand Chief Negotiator for NAFTA, and Former Minister of Finance, Quebec
9:30 am			Commentary and Remarks on the NAFTA Negotiation A Perspective from Mexico T o ny Payan, Ph.D. Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Mexico Center, Baker Institute
9:45 am			Q&A
10:30 am			Adjourn

Featured Speaker

His Excellency Raymond Bachand, Ph.D., has served as Quebec’s chief negotiator for the NAFTA renegotiation since July 2017. His is strategic advisor to Norton Rose Fulbright Canada and president of the Institut du Québec, a joint venture of the Conference Board of Canada and HEC Montréal. Bachand is also director Transat and the National Bank of Canada, and was chairman of the board for Tourisme Montréal from June 2014 to June 2018.From 2005 to 2013, he was a member of the Québec National Assembly (2005-2013). Bachand has also served as minister of economic development, innovation and export trade; minister of tourism; minister responsible for the Montréal region, minister of Finance and minister of revenue. Over the past 25 years, Bachand held various senior management positions in the private sector, including as vice president of Métro-Richelieu and Culinar, and as chairman and CEO of Fonds de solidarité FTQ and SECOR. He was a member of more than 10 boards of directors, and has volunteered in numerous social and cultural events and foundations. A member of the Quebec Bar since 1970, Bachand holds a master's degree and a doctorate in business aministration from the Harvard Business School.