1/x @JustinTrudeau lives up to his word: Canada doesn’t cave on TPP despite enormous pressure to agree to the deal and invariable criticism for agt at any price. Key sticking points said to be auto, agriculture, culture and IP. What’s behind these issues?

Two additional thoughts on TPP. First, Canada was late to TPP talks. In order to enter, Conservatives agreed that Canada would have no “veto authority”. In other words, it could never be sole opponent on a chapter. Left negotiators in a very weak position.

With the U.S. out and the chance to rethink some of the TPP provisions, that condition was gone. Far stronger position than the Conservative approach, which left Canada in a potential take-it-or-leave-it dilemma on key issues (obviously they took the deeply flawed deal).