John Weekes

John Weekes is a senior international trade policy adviser and former Canadian trade diplomat and negotiator whose career spans more than five decades. He brings extensive experience in international trade diplomacy, trade negotiations, and the development of global trade rules, with particular expertise in the evolution of the multilateral trading system and its intersection with broader economic and policy developments.

Weekes represented Canada in numerous major international trade negotiations and forums. He served as Canada’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) from 1995 to 1999 and was Canada’s Chief Negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its side agreements on labour and environmental cooperation from 1991 to 1994. He also served as Canada’s Ambassador to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. Earlier in his career, he participated in the Tokyo Round of GATT negotiations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He has chaired numerous international bodies, including the WTO General Council and the GATT Council.

Following his departure from the Canadian government in 1999, Weekes remained in Geneva, joining APCO Worldwide, a Washington-based international public affairs consultancy. In 2003, he joined the international law firm Sidley Austin before returning to Canada in 2009. From 2010 until his retirement from Bennett Jones LLP in December 2021, he served as a Senior Business Adviser to the firm.

Weekes continues to contribute to international trade and foreign policy discussions. He is an active participant in the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations and the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) in Geneva, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.