NEWS RELEASES
MINISTERS ANNOUNCE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF WTO NEGOTIATIONS
November 26, 1999 (4:20 p.m. EST) No. 258
MINISTERS ANNOUNCE CANADIAN
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF WTO NEGOTIATIONS
The Government of Canada will conduct a detailed review of the environmental impact of the next round of
World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, International Trade Minister Pierre S. Pettigrew and
Environment Minister David Anderson announced today. The review will be conducted as WTO negotiations
proceed.
The first phase of the review, a retrospective analysis of the 1994 review of the Uruguay Round, was released
today and concludes that trade liberalization did not affect Canada's ability to regulate for environmental
protection.
The second phase of the review will consist of developing a process to assess the next round, and the third will
be the actual detailed analysis of environmental impacts. The environmental review will include full and broad
public participation throughout the process.
"Canadians have told us that protecting the environment is a priority when developing public policy, and we are
responding to that concern," said Minister Anderson. "Our actions demonstrate Canada's commitment to
ensuring that the global trading system reflects our economic, environmental and social objectives."
"Trade and environmental policies can and should be mutually supportive," said Minister Pettigrew. "We are
asking Canadians to help us with this environmental review. Our consultations will be open to all Canadians,
including parliamentarians, business, and non-governmental organizations."
The review will be part of Canada's overall strategy for including environmental considerations in the new round
of WTO trade negotiations. The strategy has various components which include:
• safeguarding Canada's right to regulate to protect the environment;
• ensuring that environmental considerations are factored into trade negotiations by having the WTO
Committee on Trade and Environment act as a forum for these issues;
• clarifying the relationship between WTO rules and multilateral environmental agreements;
• strengthening co-operation between the WTO and the United Nations Environment Program;
• seeking to reduce or eliminate environmentally damaging subsidies; and
• maintaining existing provisions that allow for the use of subsidies to facilitate higher environmental standards.
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For more information about the upcoming WTO environmental assessment, Canada's overall approach to trade
and environment in the WTO round, or the retrospective analysis of the Uruguay Round, visit the Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/social-e.asp#environment
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 Canada
(613) 995-1874
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