NEWS RELEASES
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT RELEASES CANADA'S PROPOSALS FOR FTAA AGREEMENT
December 13, 2000 (3:15 p.m. EST) No. 270
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT RELEASES
CANADA'S PROPOSALS FOR FTAA AGREEMENT
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew made public today Canada's written
submissions to Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiating groups.
"Making this information available to the public is another example of this
government's commitment to making our trade negotiations open and transparent to
Canadians," said the Minister.
FTAA negotiating groups are now working toward developing draft texts for Ministers'
consideration at the next FTAA Ministerial in Buenos Aires in April 2001. Canada will
seek consensus from the 34 participating countries to make those texts public at that
time. The release of national proposals is at the discretion of each FTAA country.
Canadian proposals have been submitted to FTAA negotiating groups on market
access, government procurement, agriculture, competition policy, and subsidies and
antidumping/countervailing duties. These proposals are currently available on the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's FTAA Web site at www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/ftaa_neg-e.asp
Canada has not made any submissions to the negotiating groups on investment,
services, dispute settlement and intellectual property rights. If it does so, these will
also be posted on the Department's Web site.
FTAA negotiations hold the potential for creating the world's largest free trade area,
with 800 million people and a combined gross domestic product of nearly US$11
trillion. Liberalized trade throughout the hemisphere would increase opportunities and
benefits for Canadian exporters, manufacturers and consumers.
The FTAA is inextricably linked to the Summit of the Americas' process, whose
objectives include strengthening democracy, creating prosperity, and finding ways to
address a range of social and economic issues. Canada will host the next Summit of
the Americas in Quebec City in April 2001.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sylvie Bussières
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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