ARCHIVED - NAFTA Secretariat — Canadian Section

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SECTION 3 – SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

3.1 Financial Highlights

For the Period ending March 31, 2009
Condensed Statement of Financial Position

	Percentage Variance	2009 ($)	2008 ($)
Assets Total Assets	(9.21%)	256,582	282,620
Liabilities Total Liabilities	2.55%	518,308	505,415
Equity Total Equity	17.74%	(261,726)	(222,795)
Total	(9.21%)	256,582	282,620

For the Period ending March 31, 2009
Condensed Statement of Operations

	Percentage Variance	2009 ($)	2008 ($)
Expenses Total Expenses	7.96%	1,890,068	1,750,781
Revenues Total Revenues	(42.73)%	698	1,219
NET COST OF OPERATIONS	7.99%	1,889,370	1,749,562

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accrual accounting principles. The unaudited supplementary information presented in the financial tables in the DPR is prepared on a modified cash basis of accounting principles in order to be consistent with appropriations-based reporting. Note 3 of the financial statements reconciles these two accounting methods. For complete financial statements, please visit the Canadian Section website at: http://www.nafta-alena.gc.ca/en/view.aspx.

3.2 Other Items of Interest

3.2.1 Departmental Overview

Mandate:

• Administers the dispute settlement provisions of NAFTA Chapter 19 and 20;
• Provides assistance to the NAFTA Free Trade Commission when required; and,
• Administers dispute settlement provisions in Canada's Free Trade Agreements with Israel, Chile and Costa Rica.

Size:

• 2008-2009 Actual Spending = $1,578,138
• Number of FTEs = 11

Role:

• Administration of international trade dispute settlement mechanisms by providing registry services and procedural guidance with respect to the Rules of Procedures, Code of Conduct and conflict of interest guidelines that apply to panels of experts who hear and decide on cases brought before them (visit http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org/en/view.aspx?x=225 for an overview of NAFTA dispute settlement provisions); and,
• Joint administration of dispute settlement panels with the other involved national section(s) following an appeal of a decision made by an investigating authority such as, in Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) and government to government disputes involving two or three Parties.

Reporting Relationship

• Report to Parliament through the Minister of International Trade

3.2.2 Who We Are

The NAFTA Secretariat is a unique organization established by the Free Trade Commission, pursuant to Article 2002 of the NAFTA. It comprises the Canadian, the United States and the Mexican national sections.

3.2.3 Where We Are Located

The national sections, which are "mirror images" of each other, are located in Ottawa, Washington and Mexico City, and each is headed by a Secretary appointed by her/his respective government.

3.2.4 How We Are Organized

Each national section maintains a court-like registry relating to panel and committee proceedings. The involved national sections provide joint administration of panel and committee proceedings and share equally all expenses related to such proceedings. As a result, the national sections have harmonized their registry operations and records management practices. Further, the three national sections have jointly developed and administer the Integrated Registry Information System and the NAFTA Secretariat trilateral website, which are hosted by the Canadian Section. In light of this, the Canadian Section's relationship with its counterpart sections in the United States and Mexico is fundamental to its effective performance.

3.2.5 Travel Policies

Special Travel Authorities:

The NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section follows the TBS Special Travel Authorities.

Travel Directive, Rates and Allowances:

The NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section follows the TBS Travel Directive, Rates and Allowances.

ANNEX A

The Mandate of the NAFTA Secretariat

The mandate of the Secretariat is set out in Article 2002.3 of the NAFTA and reads:

The Secretariat shall:

a) provide assistance to the Commission;

b) provide administrative assistance to:

1. panels and committees established under Chapter Nineteen (Review and Dispute Settlement in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Matters), in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to Article 1908; and
2. panels established under this Chapter, in accordance with procedures established pursuant to Article 2012; and

c) as the Commission may direct:

1. support the work of other committees and groups established under this Agreement; and
2. otherwise facilitate the operation of this Agreement.

In 1997 and then again in 2002, the Canadian Section's mandate was expanded to include the administration of the dispute settlement processes under the following trade agreements:

• the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA);
• the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA); and
• the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement (CCRFTA).

Legislation governing the work of the Canadian Section is as follow: the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; the Special Imports Measures Act; the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; and the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Office of the Secretary
NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section
90 Sparks Street, Suite 705
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5B4
Tel: (613) 992-9388
Fax: (613) 992-9392
World Wide Web: http://www.nafta-alena.gc.ca/

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