Jim Carr: Canada is 'aggressively pursuing' trade opportunities beyond NAFTA

UPDATE: On Sept. 30, 2018, Canada and the U.S. have announced a tentative new trilateral trade deal with Mexico, now called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

With a title like minister of international trade diversification, it's no surprise that Jim Carr is eyeing trade opportunities for Canada that go beyond NAFTA. 

"We think the world is out there for Canada, and we are aggressively pursuing the possibilities," he told The House, adding that his mandate letter from the prime minister specifically cited the Asia-Pacific region as one such trade opportunity.

"There is, I think, all kinds of synergies there. The prime minister will be heading that way sometime in November. There are also possibilities in Africa."

The point, Carr said, is that Canada is not sitting back while NAFTA negotiations drag on. 

"It's important to remember these trade deals build bridges. If you take the CPTPP and CETA, we will have added one billion consumers to Canada's free trade roster," he said, referring to the revised Trans Pacific Partnership deal and the trade agreement between the European Union and Canada.

Carr also emphasized Canada's "close alignment" with Europe, and defended Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland's NAFTA negotiating tactics, which appeared to have come under sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump this week.

"I have absolute confidence in Minister Freeland and her team," Carr said. "They are absolutely crackerjack, and they are tough. You have to be tough."