Agreement

Agreement means the Free Trade Agreement entered into between the Government of Canada and the Government of the State of Israel and signed on July 31, 1996, as amended by the Canada – Israel Free Trade Amending Protocol 2018 signed on May 28, 2018. (Accord)

Commission

Commission means the Joint Commission established under paragraph 1 of Article 18.1 of the Agreement. (Commission)

Marginal note:Purpose

4 The purpose of this Act is to implement the Agreement, the objectives of which, as elaborated more specifically through its provisions, are to

• (a) strengthen the bilateral commercial relationship between Canada and the State of Israel;

• (b) improve access to the Israeli market for Canadian businesses by reducing and eliminating tariffs, addressing non-tariff barriers, enhancing cooperation and increasing transparency in regulatory matters;

• (c) ensure a high level of environmental protection through comprehensive and legally-binding commitments;

• (d) build on the respective international commitments of Canada and the State of Israel on labour matters; and

• (e) promote gender equality and encourage women’s economic empowerment and the use of voluntary corporate social responsibility standards and principles, as well as promote access for small and medium-sized enterprises to the opportunities created by the Agreement.

Marginal note:Non-application of Agreement to water

7 For greater certainty, nothing in this Act or the Agreement applies to natural surface or ground water in liquid, gaseous or solid state.

Panels, Committees, Subcommittees, Working Groups, Expert Groups and Other Bodies

Marginal note:Powers of Minister for International Trade

• 12 (1) The Minister for International Trade may

  • (a) appoint representatives of Canada to any committee, subcommittee, working group or other body referred to in paragraph 6 of Article 18.1 of the Agreement;

  • (b) appoint a panellist in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 19.7 of the Agreement; and

  • (c) propose candidates to serve as the chair of a panel, or select the chair, in accordance with that Article 19.7.

• Marginal note:Powers of Minister of Labour

  (2) The Minister of Labour may

  • (a) appoint representatives of Canada to any committee, working group or expert group referred to in sub-paragraph 4(a) of Article 12.7 of the Agreement;

  • (b) appoint a panellist in accordance with paragraph 4 of Annex 12.13.3 of the Agreement; and

  • (c) propose candidates to serve as the chairperson of a Review Panel, or select the chairperson, in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 5 of that Annex.

Marginal note:Administrative support

13 The Minister for International Trade is to designate an agency, division or branch of the Government of Canada to facilitate the operation of Chapter 18 of the Agreement and to provide administrative assistance to panels established under Chapter 19 of the Agreement.

Marginal note:Payment of costs

14 The Government of Canada is to pay the costs of or its appropriate share of the costs of

• (a) the remuneration and expenses payable to members of panels, committees, subcommittees, working groups, expert groups and other bodies, to independent experts and to the assistants of panel members; and

• (b) the general expenses incurred by panels, committees, subcommittees, working groups, expert groups and other bodies.

Orders

Marginal note:Orders — Article 19.13 of Agreement

• 15 (1) The Governor in Council may, for the purpose of suspending benefits in accordance with Article 19.13 of the Agreement, by order, do any of the following:

  • (a) suspend rights or privileges granted by Canada to the State of Israel or to goods of Israel under the Agreement or any federal law;

  • (b) modify or suspend the application of any federal law, with respect to the State of Israel or to goods of Israel;

  • (c) extend the application of any federal law to the State of Israel or to goods of Israel;

  • (d) take any other measure that the Governor in Council considers necessary.

• Marginal note:Period of order

  (2) Unless repealed, an order made under subsection (1) has effect for the period specified in the order.

Chapter 12 of the Agreement, within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, as amended from time to time in accordance with Article 21.2 of that Agreement.

Israel or another CIFTA beneficiary

Israel or another CIFTA beneficiary has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Customs Tariff; (Israël ou autre bénéficiaire de l’ALÉCI)

• Chapter 12 of the Agreement, within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, as amended from time to time in accordance with Article 21.2 of that Agreement.