C-18

Details

Full Title

An Act to implement the Agreement on Trade Continuity between Canada and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

First Reading

December 9, 2020, Parliament 43, Session 2

Type

House Government Bill

Full Content

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/43-2/c-18

Summary

The Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement Implementation Act puts into action the trade agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom. This agreement aims to make sure trade continues smoothly between the two countries. The Act includes rules for how to understand and use the agreement. It states that you need the Attorney General's permission to take legal action based on certain parts of the Act or the agreement itself.

Part 1 of the Act approves the trade agreement. It also says Canada will pay its share of the costs to run the agreement. The government can make orders to follow the agreement. Part 2 changes some existing laws to match Canada's promises in the agreement. It also has a temporary rule for the Investment Canada Act. Part 3 includes a minor change to another law and says when the Act will officially start.

The Act covers many things to help trade between Canada and the UK. It talks about import and export rules, how to handle taxes on goods, and rules for ships that carry goods between the two countries. It also changes some tax rules for goods that are fixed or changed in the UK and then brought into Canada. The goal is to make trade easier and keep the economies of both countries strong.

Issues

Economy

• Jobs

  This law aims to help businesses in Canada and the UK grow. This could lead to more job opportunities in both countries. By making it easier to trade, companies can sell more goods and services. This could help them hire more people.

• Taxation

  This Act changes some taxes on goods coming from the UK. It introduces the "United Kingdom Tariff" (UKT), which can lower or remove taxes on certain products. For some goods, the tax rate will go down over a few years until it reaches zero. The Act also has a special rule for goods that are repaired or changed in the UK before being imported to Canada, but this rule will end on January 1, 2024.

• Spending

  The Act says that the Canadian government will pay for its part of the costs to run the trade agreement with the UK. This includes paying for committees, experts, and other groups that help make the agreement work. The Act doesn't say exactly how much money will be spent, but it shows that Canada is ready to invest in making the trade agreement a success.

Environment

• Climate

  The agreement includes promoting sustainable development. It aims to help Canada and the UK work together on environmental issues. It also wants to make sure that trade between the two countries is good for the environment.

• Environmental Protection

  The purpose of this Act is to enhance environmental laws and regulations and strengthen cooperation between Canada and the United Kingdom on environmental matters