International Policy
“At this critical moment when the consensus on the rules of global trade are being rewritten, we are developing new solutions and approaches to solving new problems that are not well served by traditional approaches and thinking.”
- Carlo Dade, Director of International Policy
About
International trade is the foundation of Canadian prosperity, but trade policies designed in a period of order and rules-based certainty are not fit for the dramatic deterioration in the global trade environment in today’s more volatile world.
There is a need for new thinking, policies and relationships as Canada seeks to navigate this uncertain environment. These are not marginal or incremental changes and Canadian institutions from government to business need new skills for these fast-evolving global trade and political environments.
Our International Policy area of focus addresses major trade and policy issues that have strategic interest for Alberta and Canada. We conduct research and bring together leading thinkers to provide innovative policy responses and advance entrepreneurial ideas to address the changing trade environment.
Canada needs policies to support an innovative, bold and entrepreneurial approach to navigate this unpredictable world and define Canada's role on the global stage.
Our Core Focus
We collaborate with leaders in business, government and academia on international policy studies focused on economics, particularly trade. Our work identifies challenges to be addressed and we develop solutions to ensure trade continues to be a foundation for Canadian prosperity.
Our research focuses on Canada’s interactions with its two largest trade partners, North America and China/Indo-Pacific, and the intersections between them. Our goal is to develop better capacity to anticipate the political, economic and technological changes that will create challenges and opportunities for Canadian exporters and importers in the U.S, China and the Indo-Pacific.
Our work on trade with these regions overlaps and mirrors the natural synergies and convergence of issues in the management of Canada’s international trade and political engagement. We approach this work through two major, interrelated initiatives:
New North America Initiative (NNAI)
The NNAI is a multi-year initiative with initial funding from the Government of Alberta, focused on building a ground-up vision for cooperation, training the next generation of “North Americanists” through experiential learning in partnership with the province and academics to improve relationships with new political actors in the U.S.
The New North America Brief is a monthly newsletter published by the NNAI staff and School of Public Policy students – part of the next generation of North Americanists – and covers key news and policy insights from Canada, the United States and Mexico.
China / Indo-Pacific
China and the Indo-Pacific region are Alberta and Canada’s second-largest trade partner. We produce information and analysis to enable stakeholders to more proactively engage with the region. We identify emerging challenges for Albertan and Canadian stakeholders from political and trade tensions with China and Indo-Pacific economies and develop policies to advance Canadian trade and economic interests in the Asia-Pacific.
The Canadian-APEC SME-WG Research Initiative
In partnership with Global Affairs Canada, this initiative supports the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Working Group (SME-WG)by producing and disseminating evidence-based research to address critical issues in the development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Asia-Pacific region.
Carlo Dade
Director, International Policy
Carlo joined the School of Public Policy with an extensive background in international public policy, most recently as Director of Trade and Trade Infrastructure Policy Research Centre at Canada West Foundation.
He is a frequent media commentator and has a professional affiliation with the Johnson Shoyama School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan, is an honorary senior fellow at the School of International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa and a member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations.