NEWS RELEASES
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS MARKET ACCESS SUCCESSES AND OUTLINES CANADA'S TRADE PRIORITIES
April 11, 2001 (1:10 p.m. EDT) No. 46
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS MARKET ACCESS SUCCESSES AND
OUTLINES CANADA'S TRADE PRIORITIES
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew today released Opening Doors to the
World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities -- 2001, the government's
annual report outlining Canada's market access priorities for 2001 and highlighting
market access results.
"With exports of goods and services accounting for 45.6 percent of Canada's gross
domestic product, trade is an important fixture of Canada's economy," Minister
Pettigrew said. "Improving and securing access to foreign markets is a key factor in
ensuring continued prosperity for Canadians."
Opening Doors to the World outlines the federal government's strategy for achieving
improved access for goods, services and investment in key foreign markets through
multilateral and regional forums, through bilateral arrangements with key trading
partners and through the negotiation of new free trade agreements. The report also
includes a section entitled "Focus on the Prairies," the second in a series profiling the
regional economies of Canada.
"Our focus on the Prairies this year reflects the importance of trade to that region,"
Mr. Pettigrew said. "The Prairies have benefited considerably from greater market
access, and we will continue to emphasize the elimination of trade barriers while
working in close consultation with Canadians."
In 2000, Canada resolved a number of long-standing issues with key trading partners,
furthering the ability of Canadians to compete and succeed in the global economy.
Achievements included the opening of the Mexican market to Canadian providers of
fixed and mobile satellite services; the agreement by the European Union to provide
access for Canadian icewine; and the recognition by Japan of Canada's system of
conformity assessment for wood products, which will allow qualified firms to inspect and
stamp products as meeting Japanese standards, improving market access for Canadian
exporters.
"Canadians have proven they can compete with the best and win if given the
opportunity. We must continue our work to ensure Canadians are given every
opportunity to succeed," Mr. Pettigrew said. "Our economic success depends on open
world markets, a stable trading environment and a rules-based means of settling trade
disputes."
Opening Doors to the World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities -- 2001
and a backgrounder are available on the Department's Web site at
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/2001/menu2001-e.asp
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
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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