The following is excerpted from 13 June 2013 news release by DFAIT.
…The [House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade] CIIT began its study of a Canada-Japan EPA in April 2012 and heard from a variety of witnesses in hearings, including representatives of the federal and provincial governments, academia, businesses and industry associations.
“Ensuring our workers and businesses have preferred access to the largest, most dynamic and fastest-growing markets in the world is part of the most ambitious trade expansion plan in our nation’s history,” added Parliamentary Secretary Keddy. ..
A Joint Study on the Possibility of a Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement found that such an agreement could translate into GDP gains of $3.8 billion a year for Canada—equivalent to almost 25,000 new jobs or a boost of $326 to the average Canadian family’s annual income. The study also found that an agreement could increase Canada’s exports to Japan by as much as 67 percent.
Japan is the world’s third-largest national economy and Canada’s fourth-largest merchandise export market. In 2012, total Canadian exports to Japan reached nearly $10.4 billion. With almost $17.5 billion invested in Canada in 2012, Japan is Canada’s largest Asian source of job-creating investment.
This news release is available in its entirety at: http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2013/06/13a.aspx?lang=eng
The report is available at: http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/japan-japon/study-report_rapport-etude.aspx?view=d.