When the Department of Foreign Affairs was created in 1909, Canada was a self-governing dominion of the British Empire and had no independent foreign policy. The term “foreign affairs” avoided the question of whether a colony or dominion – self-governing and therefore sovereign in some respects – could, by definition, have foreign affairs. Since the Department was responsible for affairs with Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries, all foreign relations were of the same type, even if the head of state was shared with other nations. At the same time, Canada can further strengthen its leadership capacity on a number of medium-term global challenges that require a collective and coordinated response. These include: [REDACTED] The name of the department was changed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) in 1993 and formalized by an Act of Parliament in 1995, some 60 years after Canada took control of its foreign policy (1931). DFAIT had two separate ministers: the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is responsible for the portfolio, and the Minister of International Trade. The Minister of International Cooperation, who was responsible for organizations such as the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), also reported to DFAIT. In addition, DFAIT`s responsibilities would include Canada`s relations with Commonwealth countries – although these countries are not considered “alien” to each other. We define, shape and promote Canada`s interests and values in a complex global environment. We maintain diplomatic relations, promote international trade and provide consular assistance. We lead international efforts in development, humanitarian assistance, and peace and security.

We also contribute to national security and the development of international law. In the third quarter of 2020, the volume of world trade in goods increased by 12.5% compared to the previous quarter. In October 2020, the volume of merchandise trade fell by only 1.1% compared to the same month last year – although these global figures are supported by China`s performance. Economic disruption has created uncertainty for businesses and investors and created an increasingly volatile decision-making environment, for example in large transactions. According to UNCTAD`s World Investment Report 2020 published in October, global foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half of 2020 was 49% lower than in 2019 due to the economic impact of COVID-19. The largest declines were recorded in developed countries, which covered all major forms of foreign direct investment. A departmental plan sets out the Government`s foreign policy, international trade and development agenda for the coming year. It provides a strategic overview of political priorities, expected results and resource requirements for the coming fiscal year.

The document is approved by ministers and submitted to Parliament (usually in March-April). The plan also includes performance targets against which the Department will report its final results at the end of the fiscal year through a report on the Department`s results, which is usually tabled in Parliament in late fall. The instabilities, civil wars and armed conflicts that accompanied the end of the Cold War also consumed DFAIT`s energies, as did broader security issues such as resource scarcity, environmental degradation, mass migration, poor governance, and the erosion of human rights and well-being. Under Lloyd Axworthy`s leadership as Foreign Secretary (1996-2000), human security evolved into a new policy framework that corresponded to both limited bureaucratic capabilities and new notions of power in a globalized world. The democratization of Canadian foreign policy, also associated with Axworthy, included mechanisms for policy outreach and consultation through the use of information technology and the organization of national policy forums. This approach has drawn on the expertise and resources of civil society in shaping policy and building broad coalitions behind government policies. The 1996-97 campaign for a treaty banning landmines became a model for NGO participation in the Canadian foreign policy process, but public participation in policy-making may have remained limited. Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in New York and Washington, D.C., the threat of global terrorism and failed States occupied much of the Department`s political agenda.

A multi-faceted mission in Afghanistan resulted in calls for a 3D (diplomacy, development and defence) approach to stabilization and reconstruction, which includes better coordination between DFAIT, CIDA and the Department of National Defence (DND). With the acceleration of digital transformation, the challenges in this area are increasing even faster. The expansion of the use of e-commerce and new digital tools, some of which have been introduced urgently, increases the urgency of addressing problems related to international data collection and use. Ongoing international negotiations on digital trade issues have the potential to establish improved global trade rules that support the growth of international trade and investment. Canada`s priorities in this context include the WTO negotiations on e-commerce and our potential accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (EEPA) with New Zealand, Chile and Singapore. Canada currently applies a feminist approach to all of its international policies and programs, including diplomacy, trade, security, development and consular services. This builds on a number of sectoral feminist policies and initiatives developed in recent years, including: Canada has worked closely with like-minded countries in the WTO, G20, APEC and other multilateral for a to urge countries to keep global supply chains open and to promptly notify their trade measures in accordance with WTO commitments. so that countries can base their policy decisions on up-to-date and reliable data. As the negative effects of the pandemic were better understood, many measures were slowly lifted. Due to an administrative separation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, two separate divisions called Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) and International Trade Canada (ITCan) were created in December 2003. However, legislation formally abolishing DFAIT and creating a legal basis for individual departments failed on February 15, 2005 in a first vote in the House of Commons.

However, the government maintained the administrative separation of the two departments, although neither was established by an Act of Parliament. While the legal name of the department (under the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act of 26. June 2013) remains the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, is its public name under the Global Affairs Canada Federal Identity Program. On November 4, 2015, the new Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau changed the name of the department again. [10] While the legal name of the department remains the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, its public designation (title of use) under the Federal Identity Program is Global Affairs Canada. [11] Despite the change in title used by the department, the responsible minister is referred to as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and not the Minister of Global Affairs. A number of global and regional challenges could be exacerbated by the pandemic. Traditional international security concerns received less public attention at the onset of the pandemic, but [REDACTED], while most advanced democracies continue to focus on managing the pandemic, including global economic recovery. After China`s merchandise trade was the first country severely affected, it quickly recovered. November data shows a growing trade surplus, partly due to record shipments of medical supplies and strong demand for electronics. This is a remarkable result that reflects the strength of relatively stable, albeit declining, exports and imports. In fact, Chinese exports (in value terms) increased by 13.9% in November compared to last November, and since the beginning of the year, Chinese exports have increased by 2.6%.

These trends create potential conditions for China to record its third-largest trade surplus in its history. China`s rapid and robust recovery is skewing global data somewhat, as most other countries have larger deficits. Global trends would not be as positive without China`s significant contributions to the overall result. The challenges caused by the pandemic have exacerbated existing trade barriers for MSMEs. For example, MSMEs that are highly dependent or integrated into global value chains are the most likely to face supply shocks and demand irregularities and are the least equipped to survive them. Globally, the most affected sectors were accommodation and food, non-food manufacturing, and retail and wholesale trade – also sectors with a high number of MSMEs and the largest share of women-owned businesses. Prior to COVID-19, changing geopolitical realities were already straining the existing system of international laws, norms, alliances and institutions, often referred to as the rules-based international order (UBI). The crisis has led to a series of unilateral, protectionist and nationalist policy responses and emergency measures in line with previous global trends, but at a much faster pace. In 2015, the newly elected Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau renamed the department. While the department is still legally registered as the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, its public designation has been changed to Global Affairs Canada. As a first step, Canada is focused on promoting global support for a statement against the use of arbitrary detention in inter-state relations.