Canada’s prosperity is strongly dependent on its access to international markets , and its ability to compete for international investment and talent. There is a critical need to ensure that Canada’s approach to international economic relations is proactive, strategic, and evidence-based.
The C.D. Howe Institute’s International Economic Policy program provides essential policy intelligence to policy and business leaders seeking to navigate the rapidly-evolving global competitive environment.
The Program publishes research papers and convenes policy conferences, roundtables and informal events and discussions. There are three core areas of research: increasing Canada’s competitiveness by better capturing the benefits of open trade and investment; prioritizing and concluding successful trade and investment agreements; and understanding and influencing rules and issues affecting Canadians in the global marketplace.
The Council provides guidance and support to the program and meets periodically to review and discuss its output and impact, and to discuss relevant issues as they arise. The program’s research and publication activities are led by Daniel Schwanen, an award-winning economist with an extensive track record of influential research on cross-border trade and investment matters.
Co-Chairs
![Marta Morgan](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2024-02/Marta%20Morgan%202023.png.jpg?itok=JpBpuJic)
Marta Morgan
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada![Pierre S. Pettigrew](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Pierre%20Pettigrew%202023.png.jpg?itok=JGomLB7O)
Pierre S. Pettigrew
Former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for International TradeMembers
![Stephen Beatty](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Stephen%20Beatty.png.jpg?itok=hFTJ-aoV)
Stephen Beatty
Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.![Stuart Bergman](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-09/Stuart_Bergman.png.jpg?itok=o02IKLvN)
Stuart Bergman
Chief Economist & Vice President, Export Development Canada![](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-09/Dan%20Ciuriak%202023.png.jpg?itok=iiM2mU_3)
Dan Ciuriak
Fellow-In-Residence![](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/John%20Curtis%202023.png.jpg?itok=ron9nw93)
John Curtis
Senior Fellow![Robert Dimitrieff](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Robert%20Dimitrieff%202023.png.jpg?itok=riHAr8-l)
Robert Dimitrieff
President, Patriot Forge Co.![Rick Ekstein](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-09/Rick%202023.png.jpg?itok=Mc_aLNrG)
Rick Ekstein
President and CEO, Phaze 3 Management![Carolina Gallo](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-09/Carolina%202023.png.jpg?itok=kGnuKh6t)
Carolina Gallo
Vice-President, Government Affairs and Policy, GE Canada![Victor Gomez](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-09/Victor%20Gomez%202023.png.jpg?itok=0Lty2Ms0)
Victor Gomez
AVP, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Sun Life Financial![](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Peter%20Hall%202023.png.jpg?itok=rIJAHvmt)
Peter Hall
Fellow-In-Residence![](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2024-06/Lawrence%20Herman_2024.png.jpg?itok=vZVGEUp4)
Lawrence Herman
Senior FellowContent
Research Papers
![Protectionism and Retaliation Protectionism and Retaliation](/sites/default/files/styles/research_image_thumbnail/public/images/research_papers/WORKING-PAPER-400x300.gif?itok=-CdTSQ7-)