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
![Caroline Hughes](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Caroline%20Hughes%202023.png.jpg?itok=i50DN2Wb)
Caroline Hughes
VP, Government Relations, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited![](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-09/Jim%20Keon%202023.png.jpg?itok=0Qh-hbY5)
Jim Keon
President, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association![Jean-Marc Leclerc](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Jean-Marc%20Leclerc%202023.png.jpg?itok=OpXzj3UH)
Jean-Marc Leclerc
President and CEO, Honda Canada Inc.![Meredith Lilly](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Meredith%20Lilly_2023.png.jpg?itok=ZqCGo0XY)
Meredith Lilly
Associate Professor and Simon Reisman Chair in International Economic Policy, Carleton University![Michael McAdoo](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Michael%20McAdoo%202023.png.jpg?itok=yp_tD339)
Michael McAdoo
Associate Director, Boston Consulting Group![Marcella Munro](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Marcella%20Munro%202023.png.jpg?itok=0Vdt1-A1)
Marcella Munro
Head of Government & Regulatory Affairs, Teck Resources![Derek Nighbor](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Derek%20Nighbor%202023.png.jpg?itok=0vnbvBHb)
Derek Nighbor
President and CEO, Forest Products Association of Canada![Jeanette Patell](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Jeanette%20Patell%202023.png.jpg?itok=ZbvoOXiQ)
Jeanette Patell
Head of Canada Government Affairs & Public Policy, YouTube Canada![](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-10/Amazon%20Canada%20logo%202023.png.jpg?itok=jsOUpJ-R)
Representative, Amazon Canada
![](/sites/default/files/styles/staff_280x280/public/2023-08/Rob_Stewart_2023.png.jpg?itok=UXGgPGXx)
Rob Stewart
Deputy Minister of International TradeContent
Research Papers
![National Priorities 2016 National Priorities 2016](/sites/default/files/styles/research_image_thumbnail/public/images/research_papers/iStock_000006975570Large.jpg?itok=HoZw3Psu)