TORONTO—It seems like a million years ago now, but do you remember the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership? It was signed between Canada and some Pacific nations plus the United Kingdom way back in that long-ago time of 2018. I remember being amused by it—not because of what was in the deal, but because of some of the reporting that emerged around the negotiations. Apparently, some of the other nations were irritated that the Canadian delegation insisted on inserting the word “progressive” into the title. It felt performative, tacked on, and kind of meaningless.
