Jim Balsillie of Blackberry fame is raising alarms about
patent-related aspects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
He says negotiators for the United States crafted a deal
that leaves them in the dominant position on patent-related issues.
He says it will be bad for Canada and particularly for those
involved in innovation and developing new businesses.
He also says there’s no way out for Canada.
Basillie says it’s the worst thing the Harper government has
done.
He is not as open supporter of any political party, but has
been keenly interested in international affairs and innovation. He has donated
more than $100 million to establish the Centre for International Governance
Innovation in Waterloo.
The Trudeau government has said it wants to take some time
to study the deal, which runs to more than 6,000 pages, before it decides
whether to recommend it be signed or rejected by Canada.
The deal promises to open markets for Canadian exports of
beef, pork and grains, but to reduce Canadian farmers’ domestic market share for
poultry and dairy.
