Research - Dr. Gilbert Gagné
Dr. Gilbert Gagné
Department of Political Studies
Dr. Gagné's current research assesses the impact of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Dispute. The United States has argued that Canadian forest policies, including the fees charged by Canadian provincial governments to lumber firms to harvest trees on public land, result in subsidization and dumping. For its part, Canada has insisted that its forestry practices represent general public policies that are not related to trade and unfair conditions of competition. Unlike the United States, Canada and other countries apply a tempered model of economic liberalism, which allows for a prominent role for public authorities in certain key sectors, such as ownership and management of natural resources. Debates over such issues will intensify in a context of economic globalization. Can the notion of 'fair' conditions of competition be accommodated with the maintenance of such key differences in states' socio-economic policies? As the regime governing international trade, the WTO is the forum where such issues are discussed and negotiated. In this regard, from a broader empirical and theoretical perspective, the Softwood Lumber conflict and the crucial issues it raises will serve as a test case with respect to the development of international trade provisions.
Funding Sources
- Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture
- Social Siences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Senate Research Committee, Bishop's University
