Consul General of Canada discusses new trade agreement at Detroit Mercy Law

On Monday, Dec. 4, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, in partnership with the Cross-Border Institute and University of Windsor Faculty Law, hosted Consul General of Canada Joseph Comartin for a special lecture entitled “Canada-Mexico-United States Agreement: Renewing and Reinforcing Economic Ties.”

Consul General Comartin spoke with a crowd of legal professionals, business leaders, politicians, along with the School’s faculty and students, about his newly appointed role based in Detroit, the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, and the importance of strong trade relationships between the U.S. and Canada.

“We have one of the closest trade relationships of anywhere in the world. Michigan sells more to Canada than Mexico, China and Japan combined. 259,000 jobs in Michigan depend on trade and investment with Canada,” said Consul General Comartin. “All partners recognized the need to update NAFTA. Thanks to some creative thinking in all countries, we updated the trade agreement to create incentives for higher wages and better working conditions.”

Comartin is a graduate of Windsor Law and the former deputy speaker of Canada’s House of Commons. Comartin, who started in the role on Oct. 29, is the first Windsor-native to serve as consul general in Detroit. He will serve a four-year appointment in the role, which involves looking after Canadian interests in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

The transnational focus of Comartin’s lecture aligned well with Detroit Mercy Law and Windsor Law’s emphases on strong cross-border ties. For over 37 years, the two schools have partnered together to offer the Canadian & American Dual JD Program, which allows students to earn two law degrees from both countries in just three years. The program is the only comparative program of its kind in North America.