You are preparing for a top$-$level meeting between the Minister of International Trade, the Minister

of Foreign Affairs and senior business executives representing several multinational corporations,

as well as a large group of small$-$ and medium$-$sized enterprises. The objective of the meeting is

to discuss Canada$$s strategy in responding to the changing global business environment.

Expectations are high since everyone wishes to move beyond political pronouncements and joint

statements, to specific strategies and actions. This Trade Canada Summit is raising expectations

and all are committed to inspiring a call to action across major stakeholders engaged in

international commerce.

While Canadians like to refer to their country as a $$trading nation$$partly because of history and

partly because of the large impact of trade on today$$s Canadian economy$$leading practitioners

and senior officials recognize several truths:

$$ Canadian trade is highly concentrated in import$/$export activities with the United States.

$$ Certain industry sectors$,$ such as automotive and resource$-$based businesses, account for

a disproportionately large amount of Canada$$s trade.

$$ Intra$-$company trade$$transfers of resources between affiliated companies$$is an

important part of Canada$$s $$export$$ business.

The hard reality being confronted, and one which serves as a critical backdrop for this meeting,

is the realization that by current standards Canada does not qualify to be referred to as a trading

nation. One point of agreement between all parties is that Canada can and must do better in this

regard.

Your Role

You are a senior consultant engaged jointly by the government and the private sector

stakeholders to guide and facilitate the meeting and to assist in any agreed$-$upon actions. Your

success will be measured by the degree to which theory and principle are translated to practical,

innovative recommendations and actions, endorsed by all parties at the Trade Canada Summit.

Position Research

You fully appreciate that your effectiveness in this sensitive role will depend upon your ability to

clearly articulate the major views of each group represented at the Summit. Review the following

Feasibility of International Trade Module $$ Situational Analysis

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sources $($and others you may identify$)$ to assist in identifying the current issues, positions and

options which are likely to be the focus of the upcoming Summit.

$$ Canada$$s State of Trade, published annually by Global Affairs Canada

$$ Business Council of Canada

$$ Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

$$ Canadian Chamber of Commerce

$$ Canadian Federation of Independent Business

Trade Attitude

Your professional experience to date allows you to immediately hone in on the importance of

attitude in the successful pursuit of international trade and global business. Scan the leading

press$$as well as some $$fringe$$ publications$$to assess the current attitude of Canadians,

Canadian businesses and various government officials to Canada$$s involvement in international

trade and global business. Prepare a matrix of selected quotes, comments and observations,

identifying the source and the stakeholder group involved, that will be represented at the Summit.

Assessment Tools and Capabilities

Understanding that among attendees to the Summit there is broad consensus that Canada can

and must do better, you determine that it would be valuable to ensure all attendees are aware of

the availability of certain tools and resources. Review selected resources available to Canadian

businesses of all sizes to support their efforts in international business and trade. Those sources

can include, but need not be limited to:

$$ Canada Business Network

$$ Canada Border Services Agency

$$ Export Development Canada

$$ Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

$$ Canadian Trade Commissioner Service

$$ Global Affairs Canada

Engaging Summit Attendees

In preparation for the launch of the Summit, leverage your research, your own experience and

your understanding of the global business environment$$particularly emerging trends such as

integrative trade, the impacts of China and India on global trade, and the increasing impact of

global supply chains$$to prepare a briefing note to each key group: Global Affairs Canada,

Canadian corporate executives, and small$-$ and medium$-$sized enterprises. Highlight one or two

major issues or trends of interest to each, with reference to the same broad themes.

Theory to Action: Developing Recommendations

Prepare an outline of the main objective of each group represented at the Summit$$a $$must have$$

outcome that each would target in such a discussion$$then identify an innovative contribution that

you could propose to each group as a means of taking the dialogue from principles to practice.

Feasibility of International Trade Module $$ Situational Analysis

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Consider how you would advise each group$$both in terms of securing their