Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Negotiations

Environmental Assessment

The Government of Canada is committed to sustainable development. Mutually supportive trade, investment and environmental policies can contribute to this objective. To this end, the Minister of International Trade has directed trade officials to improve their understanding of the relationship between trade and environmental issues at the earliest stages of decision making, and to do this through an open and inclusive process. Environmental assessments of trade negotiations are critical to this work. This process is guided by the 2001 Framework for the Environmental Assessment of Trade Negotiations and developed in line with the Cabinet Directive on Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.

Following comments received during initial consultations (launched through the Canada Gazette on December 1, 2013), an Initial Environmental Assessment has now been completed by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. All interested parties are invited to submit their comments on the Initial Environmental Assessment by Friday, June 27, 2014. These comments will assist Canadian negotiators to integrate environmental considerations into the negotiating process and to address public concerns, and will help inform the development of the Final Environmental Assessment.