Vol. 148, No. 19 — September 10, 2014

Registration

SI/2014-74 September 10, 2014

CANADA – HONDURAS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY ACT

Order Fixing October 1, 2014 as the Day on which the Act Comes into Force

P.C. 2014-915 August 28, 2014

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister for International Trade, pursuant to section 53 of the Canada – Honduras Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, chapter 14 of the Statutes of Canada, 2014, fixes October 1, 2014 as the day on which that Act comes into force, other than sections 51 and 52, which came into force on assent.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

This Order fixes the day on which the Canada – Honduras Economic Growth and Prosperity Act (the Act), other than sections 51 and 52, comes into force.

The Act received Royal Assent on June 19, 2014.

Objective

The Act being brought into force implements the Free Trade Agreement and the related agreements on labour and environmental cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Honduras signed on November 5, 2013.

Background

The Act approves and implements the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Honduras and the related agreements on labour and environmental cooperation. The Canada– Honduras Free Trade Agreement (CHFTA) will strengthen the commercial relationship between Canada and Honduras by levelling the playing field for Canadian businesses in the Honduran market vis-à-vis their United States counterparts who are benefiting from preferential treatment gained through the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, the Dominican Republic and Central America (in force as of April 1, 2006).

The CHFTA will benefit Canadian businesses and workers in regions across the country and in many sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture, industrial machinery, chemical products, plastics and forestry. The CHFTA improves market access by reducing or eliminating tariffs and provides greater protection, predictability and transparency for Canadian investors. The CHFTA also provides improved market access and more secure, predictable and equitable treatment for service providers. The CHFTA will also provide comprehensive provisions on government procurement and financial services obligations. The Agreement on Labour Cooperation has comprehensive and enforceable labour-related obligations, and the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation has provisions on environmental protection.

The general provisions of the Act specify that no recourse may be taken on the basis of the provisions of Part 1 of the Act or any order made under that Part, or the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement or the related agreements themselves, without the consent of the Attorney General of Canada.

Part 1 of the Act approves the Free Trade Agreement and the related agreements. It designates the Minister for International Trade as the principal representative of Canada on the Joint Commission, which oversees the implementation and the operation of the CHFTA, and provides for the appointment by the Minister of other persons to represent Canada on any committee or subcommittee referred to in 21.1 of the Free Trade Agreement. It provides for the payment by Canada of its share of the expenditures associated with the operation of the institutional aspects of the Free Trade Agreement (the expenses incurred by the Commission, committees, and other bodies for their operation, including meetings, as well as the expenses of dispute settlement panels) and authorizes the Governor in Council to make orders for carrying out the provisions of the Act.

Part 2 of the Act amends existing laws (for example the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff and the Department of Employment and Social Development Act) in order to bring them into conformity with Canada’s obligations under the Free Trade Agreement and the related agreement on labour cooperation.

Part 3 of the Act provides that the provisions of the Act come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, other than 51 and 52, which came into force on assent.

Departmental contact

Kendal Hembroff
Director
Trade Policy and Negotiations Division
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Telephone: 343-203-4426