The anti-trade hostility seen over the course of the U.S. presidential election is result of job losses that aren’t necessarily the fault of free trade, according to former Prime Minister Paul Martin.

It’s changes in technology that are causing those job losses, Martin told BNN Wednesday while he was in Toronto discussing workplace skills and education. “It’s not trade that’s taking away those jobs,” he said. “It’s the changing in the fundamental products that are being sold and the way in which they are manufactured or the way in which they are financed.”

U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has been particularly vocal with anti-trade rhetoric throughout his campaign –  a sentiment Martin suggested is misguided.

“There’s not a country in the world – including the United States – that does not benefit from a wide trading range,” he said.  

Martin went on to stress the importance an open market to the Canadian economy.  

“We’re a small country. We’re 35-million people. We want to excel in the world and therefore we’ve got to have access to those markets,” he said.

“Those who object to trade simply do not understand the necessity of trade in terms of modern economy. The ability to be able to sell to the world is very important to Canada,” he added.

Trump has threatened to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) if he were to be elected as president. However, Wilbur Ross, an influential U.S. investor and one of Trump’s economic advisors told BNN last month that Canada will not be the main target if Trump reopens any trade deals. Mexico is a bigger problem for the United States, said Ross.