Steve Verheul
Guest Speaker
Professional Affiliation
Principal, GT&Company Executive Advisor
Expert Bio
As Canada鈥檚 Chief Trade Negotiator from 2017 to 2021, Steve Verheul was responsible for negotiating Canada鈥檚 most important trade deals including the new NAFTA (CUSMA/USMCA) and Canada-European Union trade agreement. Most recently he served as a special advisor on trade policy to Canada鈥檚 Deputy Minister of Finance.
Hailed by media and pundits as the 鈥渕ost important Canadian you鈥檝e probably never heard of鈥, Mr. Verheul鈥檚 support for our clients is game-changing. His network, expertise and relationships in domestic and international markets is unparalleled.
During his 34 years in the federal public service, he was Assistant Deputy Minister of the Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch at Global Affairs Canada and appointed as Canada鈥檚 Chief Trade Negotiator for negotiations between Canada and the European Union in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade from 2009-2016, leading that negotiation from its beginning through to its successful conclusion.
He was previously Canada鈥檚 Chief Agriculture Negotiator from 2003 to 2009, responsible for leading Canada鈥檚 involvement in international trade negotiations on agriculture, including the WTO. During his tenure at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, he worked on the NAFTA negotiations, the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations that led to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.
