While the specific process varies from country to country, international agreements are usually negotiated and signed at the highest level of government, with the participation of all other filtering up (in theory) hierarchy, at least until you get something like ACT, where the public is on the ground and essentially nullifies the entire system. One thing you do not see often, municipal governments all play a direct role in the international negotiations, but this is exactly what is happening right now in Canada, where

• The effort is led by the Council of Canadians, a social justice group that is working to convince the towns, villages and municipal governments across Canada to apply for exemption from the CETA. Their main concern is the chapter on the markets of the agreement, which establishes rules on how governments and other public bodies can spend money on goods and services, and that unduly restrict the common fear:

For example, the new rules of CETA on how public bodies spend money would:

municipalities prohibit the use of government spending to create or sustain a market for innovative goods and services, including green technologies, if the effect would favor domestic producers or attract investment in Canada. prohibit municipalities to spend public money to promote sustainability, such as buying local food policy that Toronto will reduce emissions from food miles.

So far, more than 30 local governments, representing more than 5.5 million people have joined the campaign for exemption and 30 to 40 city councils, school boards and associations have called more information and participation in negotiations. Unfortunately, as is usual in such cases, these concerns have largely been brushed in order to limit the damage by weak federal government. The security offered by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of International Trade on pages Myth Candian recall data from the EU on ACTA, and the Council of Canadians have a page that discredits them. International trade strategist Peter Clark laughs fears Canadians corporate control of water services.