Canadian Trade Relationship
Choose a country in Africa and find a news article that helps us to understand the trading relationship between Canada and your chosen country.
Please answer the following questions about your article:
Write a brief summary of the article. (1 paragraph) (3 marks)
The article Canadian firm shipped armoured cars to lawless Libya despite UN warning depicts how fragile Canada’s trading relationship is with African countries. Many African countries are war torn and have consistent conflict outbreaks occurring. Thus making it very difficult for Canada to import or export goods to a country such as Libya. The article goes in depth about how the streit group, which is a canadian owned company sent over 70 armoured vehicles to Libya, south sudan and other war ridden countries. This went against the existing embargo on arms the united nations had already placed. Organizations such as the Amnesty international Canada are appalled by the streit group’s actions. The secretary general of Amnesty International Canada, Alex Neve is very worried about the repercussions that are a result of sending weapons to a country that has no functioning government, for example the inflammation in libya’s civil war. …show more content…
However, the streit group and global affairs canada continues to insist that they have done nothing wrong and have not violated any laws or regulations.
Global affairs canada has explained that they are not in a position to take any action as the deals were managed and processed through the United Arab Emirates. As a result of the loopholes in canada’s export regime being taken advantage of, Canada hopes to strengthen their regulations by signing the Arms Trade Treaty. This treaty has been put in place to limit the amount of human rights violations caused by
weapons.
Link to article. (1 mark)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/streit-libya-un-1.3711776
What is being traded in this article? (1 mark) Describe this product/service. (2 marks)
Armed personnel carriers are being exported out to Libya. Armed personnel carriers or APCs are used to transport weapons onto battlefields.
How is this product/service used? (2 marks)
Without a doubt this product/service is being used in a negative way in Libya. As the country is in a war torn state they are hoping to use APC’S to help transport infantry and weaponry.
What is the historical trading relationship between our two countries? (1 paragraph) (2 marks)
Although the historical trading relationship between Canada and Libya has been very limited throughout the years, Canada has made continuous efforts to help Libya achieve a democratic government, similar to its own. Both countries have always had an interest in human rights, the rule of law, and commercial relations and have always had respect for one another. Canada was one of the first countries to acknowledge Libya’s need for freedom and democracy, and stepped in to help. Throughout the years Canada has contributed significant amounts of money and has helped limit the amount of weapons, mass destruction and chaos in the country. However in 2014 Canada closed its embassy as a result of the lack of security, civil conflict, threats of terrorism and the unstable environment. Canada hopes to continue its efforts and help Libya’s transition of its government and current state with the country stabilizes.
Please answer the following questions about your article:
Write a brief summary of the article. (1 paragraph) (3 marks)
The article Canadian firm shipped armoured cars to lawless Libya despite UN warning depicts how fragile Canada’s trading relationship is with African countries. Many African countries are war torn and have consistent conflict outbreaks occurring. Thus making it very difficult for Canada to import or export goods to a country such as Libya. The article goes in depth about how the streit group, which is a canadian owned company sent over 70 armoured vehicles to Libya, south sudan and other war ridden countries. This went against the existing embargo on arms the united nations had already placed. Organizations such as the Amnesty international Canada are appalled by the streit group’s actions. The secretary general of Amnesty International Canada, Alex Neve is very worried about the repercussions that are a result of sending weapons to a country that has no functioning government, for example the inflammation in libya’s civil war. …show more content…
However, the streit group and global affairs canada continues to insist that they have done nothing wrong and have not violated any laws or regulations.
Global affairs canada has explained that they are not in a position to take any action as the deals were managed and processed through the United Arab Emirates. As a result of the loopholes in canada’s export regime being taken advantage of, Canada hopes to strengthen their regulations by signing the Arms Trade Treaty. This treaty has been put in place to limit the amount of human rights violations caused by
weapons.
Link to article. (1 mark)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/streit-libya-un-1.3711776
What is being traded in this article? (1 mark) Describe this product/service. (2 marks)
Armed personnel carriers are being exported out to Libya. Armed personnel carriers or APCs are used to transport weapons onto battlefields.
How is this product/service used? (2 marks)
Without a doubt this product/service is being used in a negative way in Libya. As the country is in a war torn state they are hoping to use APC’S to help transport infantry and weaponry.
What is the historical trading relationship between our two countries? (1 paragraph) (2 marks)
Although the historical trading relationship between Canada and Libya has been very limited throughout the years, Canada has made continuous efforts to help Libya achieve a democratic government, similar to its own. Both countries have always had an interest in human rights, the rule of law, and commercial relations and have always had respect for one another. Canada was one of the first countries to acknowledge Libya’s need for freedom and democracy, and stepped in to help. Throughout the years Canada has contributed significant amounts of money and has helped limit the amount of weapons, mass destruction and chaos in the country. However in 2014 Canada closed its embassy as a result of the lack of security, civil conflict, threats of terrorism and the unstable environment. Canada hopes to continue its efforts and help Libya’s transition of its government and current state with the country stabilizes.