Introduction
The present chapter briefly describes the movement which led to the adoption of the CDCE provisions regarding its relationship with other treaties – and notably trade agreements – the way the “trade and culture debate” evolved from multilateral to bilateral and regional trade agreements and the role the CDCE may play in trade negotiations. As an illustration, it examines some current and particularly strategic negotiations, namely the trade agreements between Canada and the European Union, and the United States and the European Union, as well as the plurilateral initiative on services within the WTO.