Time for New Strategies?
Members of the Cultural Industries Sectoral Advisory Group on International Trade (SAGIT) have examined the issues facing cultural industries. In this paper, the SAGIT describes the cultural policies now in place in Canada, cultural policies used by other countries, and the growing pressure from technology and international trade agreements. It then sets out options for Canada’s cultural trade policy. In the SAGIT’s view, there are two main approaches: • the cultural exemption strategy used in the past, which takes culture “off the table” in international trade negotiations; • a new strategy that would involve negotiating a new international instrument that would specifically address cultural diversity, and acknowledge the legitimate role of domestic cultural policies in ensuring cultural diversity. According to the SAGIT’s analysis, there is growing concern worldwide about the impact of international agreements on trade and investment on culture. Canada has reached an important crossr
