Telecommunications and computer services in the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

Abstract

The paper examines, from a telecommunications policy perspective, the main features of the provisions of the recent Canada–US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dealing with enhanced telecommunications and computer services, and seeks to draw conclusions that may be relevant to efforts in the current GATT round to develop new trade rules for services. It reviews the key features of the Canada–US agreement, including the approach taken to definitions, market access and national treatment, monopoly behaviour and access to information issues. The paper notes that although the FTA has limitations as a model for future trade in telecommunications, many of the same issues will have to be dealt within the GATT negotiations. Based on the Canadian experience in negotiating the telecommunications provisions in the FTA, the author concludes that concerns expressed by some telecommunications policy–makers that liberalized trade rules may make it difficult to continue to pursue their own national policy objectives are unfounded.