Already eight years in the making, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would be a huge bloc encompassing 40 per cent of global trade and part of Obama’s much-vaunted “pivot” towards Asia in the face of an increasingly assertive China, which is not included. “In the TPP negotiations for example, all 12 countries will want to retain their power to regulate appropriately, and will not be trading that power away”.

ExportNZ commissioned ISDS and sovereignty, a report on investor-state dispute settlement provisions in the Trans Pacific Partnership and other free trade agreements.

At least 25 TPP protesters were arrested after trying to force their way into a government building in Wellington, earlier this week.

“Canadians need to have confidence that their government is being honest with them, being open and transparent about the kinds of issues that we’re going to have to make possible concessions about”.

However, the Conservative leader suggested that the auto sector may not “necessarily like everything” in the deal.

The auto sector is also contentious because of a TPP proposal that could soften the so-called rules of origin requirements, permitting Japan to export vehicles to North America with fewer parts actually made in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Flavio Volpe, president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, said he’s counting on Ottawa to protect his sector.

“We simply can’t afford, as a country, to have our auto sector shut out of global supply chains – that would be a disaster”, said Harper. “When the final agreement is done, we will be looking to see that this balance was achieved”. “He just showed he’s the world’s most incompetent negotiator”.

The Unifor president says that if the negotiations are successful, the auto parts industry in Ontario will be “devastated”.

“We do not believe Canada’s domestic interest should be compromised to the potential advantage of low-priced jurisdictions outside the TPP”, it said.

The chances Canadian voters will be confronted with a sweeping trade deal before they have chosen a new government have suddenly increased tremendously.