Tories seek outside consultant to help auto industry in free trade talks | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Tories seek outside consultant to help auto industry in free trade talks

Kia Motors' cars are hung on assembly line in Gwangju, south of Seoul, Aug. 29, 2005. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Yonhap, Hyung Min-woo

OTTAWA - The Harper government wants to hire an outside consultant to give strategic advice on how it can negotiate free trade agreements that are advantageous to the auto sector.

The consultant would be paid up to $420,000 for three years to provide Canadian trade negotiators strategic advice on how to get the best deal possible for makers of cars, buses, and heavy trucks.

The federal government began soliciting bids for the contract today, noting that it is moving forward with free trade talks on a number of fronts, including two countries with thriving auto industries: South Korea and Japan.

The Tories, ardent free traders, landed their biggest deal last fall when they signed an agreement-in-principle on a sweeping pact with the European Union.

As the call for bidders makes clear, many more deals are being sought including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as separate, bilateral pacts with South Korea and Japan.

Initially the job will be for one year, but with options to renew for two more.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014
The Canadian Press

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