(Canadian PM) Harper signs trade agreements with China

[pampango]

Foreign investment deal takes relations 'to the next level'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed a slew of agreements Wednesday covering energy, natural resources, education, science and technology, and agriculture.

The foreign investment protection deal still needs to be legally reviewed and ratified by the Canadian and Chinese governments before it can come into force. In Canada, that will include debate in the House of Commons. But the deal is essentially done, the CBC's Susan Lunn reported from Beijing.

The agreement gives foreign investors equal footing with domestic businesses in either country. Business groups had been urging Harper to wrap up talks with China in order to spur greater investment between the two countries.

The FIPA has been desperately needed, given Canadian investors' experience with corruption and fraud in China, the CBC's Terry Milewski reported from Beijing. Officials now expect it will be reviewed and ratified by both sides within a year, he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/02/08/stephen-harper-china-visit-daytwo.html

Sounds like it is more of a foreign investment agreement than a trade deal. The details will be interesting.

[DCKit]

1. Is that second or third base Steve?

Please don't tell us when you've gone all the way, 'cause a lot of us have vivid imaginations.

[xchrom]

2. Du rec. Nt