Mr de Boer has been appointed Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO). He was previously Canada’s Ambassador to Poland.

The Permanent Representative is mandated by Minister of International Trade François-Philippe Champagne to represent Canada’s trade interests and more broadly to promote open and progressive trade arrangements in the multilateral forum.  For Canada, progressive trade means ensuring that all segments of society can benefit from the economic opportunities that flow from trade and investment.

Mr. de Boer joined Global Affairs Canada in 2005 after working 11 years for the Government of Ontario advising on trade and investment policy.  He has held various positions in the department including as Director General for Trade Controls, Director of the Oceans and Environmental Law Division and Director of the Softwood Lumber Division.  He also acted as Deputy Chief Negotiator for Climate Change and Director General at Environment Canada promoting Canada’s environmental and economic interests.  Mr. de Boer represented Canada in several critical negociations ; he received an award from the Minister of International Trade for his contribution to the conclusion and ratification of the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement  (2007). Mr. de Boer has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Western University and a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University.