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CCCA_V7No1_CoverStory-FIN_CCCA 2/12/13 4:48 PM Page 25 Milos Barutciski Cover Partner, co-head of international trade law Bennett Jones, Toronto hen Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the sign- ing of the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) last year, Wit set off one of the most contentious domestic debates on a bilateral treaty since the establishment of the free-trade agreement with the United States in the late 1980s. Two sides emerged on what the agreement, signed at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation leaders’ meet- ing in Vladivostok, Russia, would mean for this country. Opponents said it would work against Canadian inter- ests. Supporters argued it will enhance economic activity between Canada and the world’s fastest-growing econ- omy by creating a fair and equitable set of rules in order to promote and protect investment activity between corporate players in either country. Either way, both sides agree it will have an impact on Canadian companies — and corporate counsel need to be up to speed on the implications. PRINTEMPS 2013 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 25