Health Care and the Limits of “Progressive” Neoliberalism: Re-Evaluating the Trade-Health Interface 2006-2019

From 1995 to 2006, Canadian trade policy purported insulate the health care system from effects of liberalization, largely through reliance upon key general exclusion clauses in NAFTA and GATS other legal strategies. During Conservative years 2006-2015 government de-emphasized these strategies, (more importantly) international agenda increasingly emphasized investment promotion patent protection. When Liberal Party returned 2015, personal, structural, ideological factors all pointed retention neoliberal agenda, but one which was legitimated by more 'progressive' features, such as side-agreements. This paper traces evolution 'progressive neoliberalism' trade-health interface argues that we need recognize inherent limitations an approach preaches harmony coherence between domestic law.