Bill C-8 explained in plain English

Bill C-8 implements a free trade agreement between Canada and Jordan, along with related environmental and labour cooperation agreements, by approving the agreements and amending Canadian customs and trade laws to grant preferential tariff treatment to Jordanian goods while adding safeguards for Canadian producers.

Bill C-8 is legislation that brings into force a free trade agreement between Canada and Jordan, along with related agreements on the environment and labour cooperation. The bill was signed on June 28, 2009. The bill has three main parts. Part 1 approves the three agreements and sets up the institutional framework for managing them. It authorizes the Government of Canada to pay its share of the costs of running the joint committees and panels that oversee the agreements. It also gives the Governor in Council (cabinet) power to make orders to suspend benefits under the trade agreement if needed, for example if imports from Jordan are causing serious injury to Canadian producers. Part 2 makes changes to several existing Canadian laws to make them consistent with the free trade agreement. These changes affect how customs duties (taxes on imported goods) are handled. The bill adds Jordan to the list of countries that get preferential tariff treatment (lower import taxes) on certain goods. It also adds new complaint procedures so Canadian producers can ask the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to investigate if goods from Jordan are being imported in such high quantities that they are causing serious injury to Canadian industries. If the tribunal finds that this is happening, the Governor in Council can temporarily increase tariffs on those goods. The bill also amends laws dealing with labour and environment cooperation with Jordan. It designates which government departments are responsible for managing these agreements. Part 3 contains technical coordinating provisions and sets out that the bill will come into force on a date to be set by order of the Governor in Council (meaning cabinet will decide when it takes effect). The bill does not allow private individuals or companies to sue directly under the trade agreement itself without the consent of the Attorney General of Canada. It also specifically states that the agreement does not apply to water.

The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 24 March 2010, The Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway introduced Bill C-8, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Canada-Jordan Free Trade Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-8 implements a free trade agreement between Canada and Jordan that was signed in June 2009. Among other things, it: • eliminates tariffs on over 99 percent of recent Canadian exports (by value) to Jordan. • eliminates all non-agricultural tariffs, numerous agricultural tariffs and tariffs on many Canadian exports, including pulse crops, frozen french fries, animal feed, various prepared foods, certain forestry products and machinery. • eliminates all tariffs on Jordanian goods, with the exception of over-quota tariffs on dairy, poultry and eggs, which are excluded from tariff reductions. • commits Canada and Jordan to ensuring that their laws respect the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. • commits Canada and Jordan to protecting occupational health and safety, maintaining acceptable minimum employment standards and providing compensation for occupational injuries and illnesses. Migrant workers will have the same legal protection as nationals in respect of working conditions. • stipulates that failure to respect ILO principles and enforce domestic laws could result in an independent review panel assessing a monetary penalty, as a last resort. • commits Canada and Jordan to pursuing high levels of environmental protection and to striving to develop and improve their environmental laws and policies. • commits Canada and Jordan to ensuring environmental assessment processes are in place, and to providing remedies for violations of environmental laws.