As countries seek to strengthen their access to critical minerals, a new generation of targeted trade agreements is emerging outside traditional multilateral frameworks. These agreements can create new opportunities for trade and investment, but they also raise important questions about their legal status, content and impact on the international trading system.
Professor Geneviève Dufour and postdoctoral researcher Valériane Thool will examine these questions through a new four-year research project, “Les accords commerciaux ciblés sur les minéraux critiques: statut juridique, contenu et effet sur le commerce international” (“Trade agreements targeting critical minerals: Legal status, content and effects on international trade”). The project has received funding through the Mitacs Accelerate program and will be conducted in partnership with the Aluminium Association of Canada.
The researchers will investigate how these emerging sector-specific agreements are being used as tools of economic and diplomatic policy, and what their growing use means for international trade law. Their research will examine the legal frameworks governing these agreements, their substantive provisions and their effects on trade between countries. The project will also provide opportunities for students to gain practical research experience through internships with the Aluminium Association of Canada.
For Canada, these questions are particularly timely. As demand for critical minerals continues to grow, Canada is seeking to strengthen its supply chains and establish itself as a reliable and sustainable supplier. Targeted trade agreements are becoming an increasingly important tool in this effort, as countries compete to secure strategic resources and build resilient supply networks.
Geneviève Dufour holds the University Research Chair on Sustainable, Responsible and Inclusive Trade Law. The Chair aims to advance research into whether and how trade law can promote greater respect for human rights, environmental protection and inclusion.
The Mitacs Accelerate program supports research partnerships between academic institutions and industry, creating opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to apply their expertise to real-world challenges. The program combines academic research with hands-on experience in partner organizations, helping to build connections between researchers, students and industry.
Congratulations to Professor Dufour and Dr. Thool on the launch of this new project!