The Myth of Internatonal Trade Barriers and TILMA'S Economic Benefits - by Mark Lee. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives & Erin Weir, Social & Economic Policy, Can. Labour Congress. This study looks at the present trade between provinces to find any problems that a TILMA can fix and save on costs of trade between provinces. It disproves the BC government asserton that TILMA will add $4.8 billion to the province’s economy. The study concludes: Despite the rhetoric, there are few examples of inter-provincial trade barriers and no evidence that they entail significant economic costs. Certainly, such barriers are not sufficient to justify a far-reaching agreement like TILMA, which would substantially curtail the capacity of provincial governments to act in the public interest. Canada needs a transparent, incremental approach focused on particular problems rather than TILMA’s sweeping provisions. Ontario & Quebec talk of implementing a TILMA like agreement. The press reports say that like TILMA, the deal will look at "harmonizing regulations that govern everything from the weight of trucks to health care". Manitoba and Ontario are also talking a similar deal. Then why TILMA? These internal so-called trade deals look more and more like the provinces, with advice from their corporate partners, are putting their houses in order to better comply with the plans for the North American Union referred to as the Security, Prosperity, Partnership Agreement (SPP). Terms of SPP require that regulations between US and Canada along with Mexico be harmonized. Canada has already agreed to raise the amount of residue on food to that of US perhaps others not yet discovered. Then there is the important dispute settlement process set out in TILMA which will bring into force an agreement similar to NAFTA but will expand the reach to provinces, municipalities that can be sued for non-compliance with desired investment proposals. Elsie Dean