NEWS RELEASES
CANADA TO HOST NAFTA COMMISSION MEETING
April 19, 1999 (11:00 EDT) No. 83
CANADA TO HOST NAFTA COMMISSION MEETING
International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi today announced that Canada will host the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) Commission meeting on April 23 in Ottawa. The Minister will be joined by United States
Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Mexican Secretary of Commerce and Industrial Development
Herminio Blanco in celebrating the fifth anniversary of the NAFTA.
"After five years, the NAFTA has been a resounding success for all its partners, promoting strong economic growth,
increased investment and trade between our three countries and historically low unemployment levels," said the
Minister. "This meeting is an opportunity to celebrate achievements to date and, more importantly, to chart the
agreement's future path."
During the Commission meeting, the three Ministers will review the results of the operational review, launched last
year to establish priorities for the NAFTA Working Groups and Committees; consider progress across the NAFTA
Work Program and how to build on the success to date; and discuss issues of shared interest with respect to the
broader trade agenda. They will also discuss other bilateral and trilateral issues.
In addition to the Commission meeting on Friday, the three Ministers will attend a breakfast with university students
from Canada, the United States and Mexico and a public business luncheon in honour of the NAFTA's fifth
anniversary. On Thursday evening, the three Ministers will take part in a roundtable meeting and dinner hosted by
the Business Council on National Issues.
"We need to evaluate both the opportunities and the challenges facing the NAFTA," said Minister Marchi. "In other
words, we must ensure the agreement remains the vital, state-of-the-art trade instrument it was intended to be."
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Leslie Swartman
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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