NEWS RELEASES
MARKET ACCESS REPORT OUTLINESCANADA'S TRADE PRIORITIES
March 27, 1997 No. 64
MARKET ACCESS REPORT OUTLINES
CANADA'S TRADE PRIORITIES
The Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister for International Trade, today released a
report on Canada's priorities for gaining better access to foreign markets for
Canadian businesses.
"This report outlines our game-plan for helping Canadian companies compete on an
improved playing field in key foreign markets," said Mr. Eggleton. "Better access
to foreign markets means more opportunities for Canadian exporters and investors
and more jobs for Canadians."
The report, Canada's International Market Access Priorities -- 1997, describes how
Canada is seeking improved access for goods, services and investments in several
important markets. The document covers multilateral and regional trade
liberalization initiatives and specific market access issues in several key
markets, including the United States. The individual markets covered in the report
accounted for over 95 per cent of Canada's record $314 billion worth of goods and
services exports in 1996.
"Trade liberalization through the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North
American Free Trade Agreement has stimulated growth in Canada's trade in recent
years," said Mr. Eggleton. "We have taken further steps to enhance trade in the
last year through new free trade agreements with Chile and Israel."
The report also notes that Canada is involved in important multilateral
negotiations on investment within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development. The objective is to gain greater protection and to reduce barriers
for Canadian direct investment in other countries.
As well, Canada is making use of the WTO dispute settlement system in an effort to
resolve some trade disputes with other countries. And the government is pursuing
other activities to deal with trade and investment barriers erected by partners
ranging from the United States to the European Union.
The new report replaces the Register of U.S. Barriers to Trade, which was issued
annually by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade since 1993.
Improving market access is a key element of Canada's strategy for assisting
Canadian exporters and investors in foreign markets. Canada's International Market
Access Priorities follows the Minister for International Trade's report to
Parliament on March 19, 1997, on the government's international business
development activities. A paper on Canada's overall trade policy agenda will be
released later this spring.
The report is available on DFAIT's web site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca. It also
may be obtained by contacting the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's InfoCentre at 1-800-267-8376 (toll-free), or, in the Ottawa area, at 944-4000.
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A backgrounder on the highlights of the report is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Nicole Bourget
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait.maeci.gc.ca
Backgrounder
CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL MARKET ACCESS PRIORITIES - 1997 HIGHLIGHTS
With exports of goods and services now accounting for 40 per cent of Canada's
gross domestic product, the country's economic well-being depends on preserving
and enhancing access to foreign markets. Canada has been successful in securing
improved and more predictable access to the United States and other key markets,
and will continue to work for improved and expanded coverage of international
rules governing trade and investment. Better access to foreign markets means more
opportunities for Canadian firms, producing jobs and growth at home.
Canada's International Market Access Priorities - 1997, presents priorities for
further improving access for goods, services and investments to key markets
through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives. Its geographic scope
includes the United States, important regional initiatives in the Asia Pacific,
Europe and Latin America, and several other key markets.
Although the individual markets covered in the report accounted for over 95 per
cent of Canadian exports in 1996, the document is not intended as an exhaustive
catalogue of government activities to improve market access, nor as a
comprehensive inventory of foreign barriers to trade. The report succeeds the
Register of U.S. Barriers to Trade, prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade annually since 1993.
Canada's International Market Access Priorities covers the following:
World Trade Organization (WTO)
To improve opportunities for Canadian business, Canada will be active through the
full range of activities of the WTO, the cornerstone of the world trading system.
For example, Canada has invoked the WTO's strengthened dispute settlement
mechanism to challenge the European Union's ban on imports of meat derived from
livestock treated with growth-promoting hormones, and Australia's ban on imports
of uncooked salmon. Canada is also participating in accession negotiations with
China, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Russia and other important markets seeking to join
the WTO. Canada will work to ensure that they join the WTO on terms that
strengthen the world trading system and produce tangible benefits to Canadian
traders and investors.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Working with the United States and Mexico, Canada will continue to seek
accelerated tariff reductions where it serves Canadian interests, and will pursue
additional initiatives to streamline cross-border commerce.
United States of America
Canada will:
protect and enhance access to the U.S. market by exercising its rights under
existing trade agreements and resisting U.S. measures that constrain Canada's
access to its most important trading partner;
continue to closely monitor -- and, if necessary, challenge -- key legislative and
other developments that have an impact on the trading environment;
continue to defend Canadian cultural policies in the face of U.S. challenges, and
to protect the growing importance of the U.S. market to Canada's cultural
community;
work closely with the United States to introduce a number of concrete steps to
create a "smart" border that facilitates trade and tourism, but keeps illegal
goods and services out; and
pursue a range of other initiatives to advance Canadian market access objectives
in other areas, such as trade remedies, services, and government procurement.
Mexico
Canada will continue to seek improved access in a number of areas, including
agricultural products, trucking, telecommunications, financial services and
government procurement.
Other Major Markets
Canada will:
continue to seek the elimination of a range of European Union tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting products such as fur, cereals, asbestos, and aluminum;
urge Japan to modify a range of measures affecting, primarily, Canadian exports
of agri-food products and building products and housing;
make telecommunications products, agri-food and beverage products and investment
its market access priorities for Korea;
seek improved access to the Indian market in areas such as telecommunications and
through the phase-out of balance-of-payments import restrictions; and
look forward to continued, excellent access to the Hong Kong market after the
July 1, 1997, transfer to the People's Republic of China.
New Free Trade Agreements
Canadian business will have significantly enhanced access to the Chilean market
upon implementation of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement on June 2, 1997.
Under the recently implemented Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, Canada now
enjoys a level playing field in that market with its competitors.
Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) Negotiations
In these negotiations, scheduled to conclude in May 1997, Canada is seeking
greater protection for Canadian direct investments in other countries and the
reduction of barriers to investment. The MAI should also increase the
attractiveness of Canada as an investment location.
Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)
In 1997, which is also Canada's Year of Asia Pacific, Canada chairs this 18-member
forum that promotes economic co-operation on the Pacific Rim. To improve access
for Canadian traders and investors to these fast-growing markets, Canada will
pursue several initiatives, including the harmonization and simplification of
customs procedures.
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)
Canada will continue to be a strong proponent of this initiative which is seeking
to achieve free trade among 34 countries of the hemisphere by 2005. Canada aims to
see negotiations launched by 1998.
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