Yasir Naqvi is the Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre and currently serves as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and Secretary of State for International Development.
A seasoned public servant and advocate, Yasir brings deep expertise in international trade law and policy. Prior to entering politics, he practiced international trade, competition, regulatory, and administrative law at major Canadian law firms and worked with the Centre for Trade Policy and Law.
He has advised government, corporate, and nongovernmental clients on NAFTA (now CUSMA/USMCA), WTO agreements, and regional trade and investment frameworks. Yasir has supported clients in trade negotiations, offering sector-specific policy guidance, and has appeared before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the Federal Court of Canada, and NAFTA dispute resolution panels on matters including trade remedies, subsidies, procurement, and export controls. He has also taught international trade law at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law and published extensively in the field. Previously, Yasir served as Ontario’s Attorney General, Government House Leader, and Minister of Labour and Community Safety and Correctional Services.
As a former CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, he led efforts to foster civic engagement and inclusion among newcomers. A tireless advocate for human rights and inclusive economic growth, Yasir remains focused on strengthening Canada’s global trade relationships, expanding market access for Canadian businesses, and ensuring international development efforts align with Canadian values.
