NEWS RELEASES
EGGLETON TO ATTENDAPEC TRADE MINISTERIAL MEETING AND VISITNEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH KOREA
July 11, 1996 No. 126
EGGLETON TO ATTEND
APEC TRADE MINISTERIAL MEETING AND VISIT
NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH KOREA
The Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister for International Trade, will attend the
Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum (APEC) Trade Ministerial Meeting in
Christchurch, New Zealand, on July 15 and 16, and will visit New Zealand,
Australia and South Korea from July 17 to 22.
APEC comprises 18 member economies and is dedicated to liberalizing and
facilitating trade and investment, and developing economic co-operation, in the
Asia Pacific region. Canada will chair the APEC process through 1997.
The meeting of APEC trade ministers was proposed by Prime Minister Chrétien at the
meeting of APEC leaders in Osaka in November 1995. It will focus on what
contributions APEC can make toward a successful outcome of the first Ministerial
Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to be held in Singapore in
December 1996. Ministers will also review progress to date on the implementation
of APEC's work program for further trade and investment liberalization.
"Canada is proud of the role we have played in initiating this APEC Trade
Ministerial Meeting. It will help gather support for further trade
liberalization, which is key to economic growth and job creation in Canada and the
world. It will also help ensure that APEC's trade and investment liberalization
agenda reinforces WTO objectives," said Mr. Eggleton.
From July 17 to 21, Mr. Eggleton will meet with representatives of New Zealand's
and Australia's trade promotion organizations and business communities to promote
trade and investment. He will also meet with New Zealand's Minister for Trade
Negotiations, Philip Burdon, in Auckland, and Australia's Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Trade, Tim Fisher, in Canberra. Mr. Eggleton and Mr. Fisher will
preside over the first meeting of the Consultative Group on Trade and Economic Co-operation, established by an arrangement between Canada and Australia signed last
November.
In South Korea from July 22 to 23, Mr. Eggleton will be accompanied by a
delegation of Canadian business representatives. He will meet in Seoul with
Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Park Jae-Yoon, Minister of Science
and Technology, Chung Kun-Mo, and senior Korean business executives to promote
trade and investment. This visit will facilitate preparations for the upcoming
Team Canada mission in 1997.
Exports to Asia Pacific continue to grow at unprecedented rates, increasing last
year alone by 33 per cent, and have become an important component in the creation
of jobs and growth in Canada. For example, exports to South Korea last year
increased by 24 per cent, and this country is now the second-largest source of
visitors to Canada after Japan.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Nicole Bourget
Director of Communications
Minister Eggleton's Office
(613) 996-6271
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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