Niigata Joint International Seminar ParticipantsUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Law Professor Linda Reif has just returned from a trip to Japan. On January 25, 2014, she made a presentation on “Canadian Trade Policy on Free Trade Agreements” at the 4th Joint International Seminar on “The Legal and Political Impact of Free Trade Agreements” hosted by the Faculty of Law, Niigata University located in Niigata City. The University of Alberta Faculty of Law has had an exchange relationship with Niigata’s law school since the early 1990s.
Speakers at the seminar included Niigata professors in law and political science and representatives from other universities with exchange relationships with Niigata, including the University of Bristol, Münster University, Inha University in South Korea, China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Professor Reif, Colleagues and Niigata Law Students on Summit of Mount YahikoJapan’s current interest in exploring free trade agreements comes primarily from its participation in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Negotiations. The seminar participants were also treated to a taste of Japanese winter weather with a trip to the Yahiko Shinto Shrine at the base of Mount Yahiko. In addition, to her trip to Niigata, Professor Reif also met with officials at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo to discuss strengthening our academic ties with Niigata University.
"The Niigata seminar was an excellent forum for sharing views with colleagues from East Asia and beyond on the TPP negotiations and other free trade agreement developments,” said Professor Linda Reif. “It has also served as the catalyst for renewing our longstanding relationship with Niigata law school. I look forward to giving my support to the renewal of our exchange relationship in the coming years."