Tag Archives: International Business Lawyer

Mark Warner was interviewed on BNN and Bloomberg TV Canada about the European Commission’s decision to recommend that the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) be considered a “mixed agreement” requiring ratification by the EU Council, the EU Parliament and the 28 EU Member States. (July 5,, 2016). Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the CETA negotiations and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. Mr. Warner, a Canadian and U.S. lawyer, has  previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate. As a partner in a leading boutique law firm in Brussels specializing in European and international law, Mr. Warner negotiated with European Commission Competition officials the first ever notified merger of companies from accession countries (Polish and Czech oil companies) following EU expansion in 2004.

Mark Warner was interviewed on Bloomberg Canada about trade issues arising in the North American Leaders Summit (June 29, 2016) and commented on the proposed trilateral coordinated compliance efforts and information sharing regarding the enforcement of anti-dumping and countervailing measures on steel products. Mr. Warner also discussed Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trumps threat to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade agreement (NAFTA) and proposed “Buy American” preferences for steel used in U.S. infrastructure  projects.  Mr. Warner, a Canadian and U.S. lawyer, has advised governments on trade policy and trade negotiations and previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate. Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. He is co-author of a leading Canadian trade law treatise, has also published numerous articles and has been invited to speak at conferences around the world.

Mark Warner was asked to comment in the National Post (June 28, 2016) and CBC News (June 30, 2016) about Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policy speech threatening to renegotiate or withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). Mr. Trump also promised to ramp up the use of trade remedy laws and “Buy American” preferences for steel used in U.S. infrastructure  projects. Mr. Warner, a Canadian and U.S. lawyer, has advised governments on trade policy and trade negotiations and previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate. Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. He is co-author of a leading Canadian trade law treatise, has also published numerous articles and has been invited to speak at conferences around the world.

Mark Warner was interviewed on CBC News Network (June 27, 2016) and AM980 in London, Ontario (June 28, 2016) about what the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) has done for Canada in the wake of a poll showing one in four Canadians say NAFTA is good for Canada, and more than one-third want it renegotiated.  Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the CETA negotiations and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. Mr. Warner, a Canadian and U.S. lawyer, has advised governments on trade policy and trade negotiations and previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate. He is co-author of a leading Canadian trade law treatise, has also published numerous articles and has been invited to speak at conferences around the world.

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Mark Warner was interviewed on BNN about TransCanada’s NAFTA Chapter 11 investor-state Request for Arbitration filed against the United States Government. (June 24, 2016) Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised on various NAFTA Chapter 11 investor-state arbitration cases involving Ontario . Mr. Warner has advised governments on trade and investment policy and trade negotiations and previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate.

Mark Warner was interviewed about the June 23, 2016 United Kingdom referendum on leaving the European Union (Brexit) and the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) in print on TVO (May 24, 2016),  Financial Post, CBC on television on CBC Power & Politics (June 24, 2016),  BNN and CBC The National (June 27, 2016). Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the CETA negotiations and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. Mr. Warner, a Canadian and U.S. lawyer, has  previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate. As a partner in a leading boutique law firm in Brussels specializing in European and international law, Mr. Warner negotiated with European Commission Competition officials the first ever notified merger of companies from accession countries (Polish and Czech oil companies) following EU expansion in 2004.

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Mark Warner was invited to react to about Prime Minister Trudeau’s comments about criticism of the North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the U.S. election campaign in a BNN interview. (June 9, 2016) Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the CETA negotiations and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. Mr. Warner, a Canadian and U.S. lawyer, has advised governments on trade policy and trade negotiations and previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate.

In the context of Prime Minister Trudeau’s bilateral visit to Japan on the margins of the G7 Summit May 26-27, Mark Warner was interviewed on BNN about Canada-Japan trade and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), the upcoming UK referendum on leaving the European Union (Brexit) and the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) and criticism of the North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the U.S. election campaign. (May 25, 2016) Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade and advised Ontario in the CETA negotiations and on several NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Arbitrations. Mr. Warner, a Canadian and U.S. lawyer, has advised governments on trade policy and trade negotiations and previously worked on trade and competition issues as counsel in the OECD Trade Directorate.

Mark Warner was quoted in a Tax Notes International Article on the recent decision of the WTO Appellate Body on Panama’s challenge to certain Argentinian “defensive” measures on financial services and service providers from certain jurisdictions that do not cooperate or agree to information sharing in tax  enforcement. (April 19, 2016) The WTO Appellate Body circulated its decision on April 15th. The panel decision is particularly important in light of the recent threats by the G20, the European Union and the United States to sanction tax havens after the Panama Papers scandal. As counsel at the OECD Trade Directorate, Mr. Warner advised on harmful tax competition issues and previously worked on other trade and competition issues. Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade participated in the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations including the chapters on investment and trade in services. Mr. Warner advises governments and business clients on trade policy, trade disputes and trade negotiations.

Mark Warner published a Comment in the Globe and Mail Report on Business on recent WTO dispute settlement decisions relating to tax avoidance and money laundering. (April 16, 2016) The recent Panama Papers unauthorized release of confidential documents for many offshore entities has, like the 2014 LuxLeaks release, shone a spotlight on tax havens and enforcement co-operation among tax authorities. Two recent WTO dispute settlement panel decisions involving Panama are particularly important in light of the recent threats by the G20 and the European Union to sanction tax havens after the Panama Papers scandal. The first case involves a challenge by Panama to certain Argentinian “defensive” measures on financial services and service providers from certain jurisdictions that do not cooperate or agree to information sharing in tax  enforcement. The WTO Appellate Body circulated its decision on April 15th. The second cases involves a challenge by Panama to a compound tariff imposed on textile goods by Columbia to counter alleged money laundering. The WTO Appellate Body decision in this dispute is pending.

As counsel at the OECD Trade Directorate, Mr. Warner advised on harmful tax competition issues and previously worked on other trade and competition issues. Mr. Warner was Legal Director of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade participated in the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations including the chapters on investment and trade in services. Mr. Warner advises governments and business clients on trade policy, trade disputes and trade negotiations.