NEWS RELEASES
PETTIGREW TO ADVANCE CANADIAN TRADE INTERESTS IN SOUTH AMERICA
July 7, 2000 (10:00 a.m. EDT) No. 175
PETTIGREW TO ADVANCE CANADIAN TRADE INTERESTS
IN SOUTH AMERICA
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew will visit Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia this month to advance
Canadian business interests and forge stronger bilateral trade ties.
Mr. Pettigrew will meet key government and business representatives to discuss trade issues such as the status of the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations. The Minister will be in Santiago, Chile, from July 9 to 11. He will be in
Buenos Aires, Argentina, on official business from July 11 to 14, with a day visit to Uruguay on July 13. From July 30 to
August 2 he will be in Bogotá, Colombia, where he will meet with Colombian President Andrés Pastrana and other
government and business leaders.
"Latin America is an increasingly important destination for Canadian exports," Minister Pettigrew said. "Strengthening our
ties with the nations of South America is a strategic move. The region holds tremendous opportunity for Canadian
businesses, now and into the future."
Two-way trade between Canada and Chile totalled $782 million in 1999 -- an 11.8 percent increase from the previous
year. Two-way trade with Colombia was $535.6 million in 1999; two-way trade with Argentina totalled $515 million; and
two-way trade with Uruguay amounted to $126.7 million.
Minister Pettigrew's South American visit will provide opportunities to respond to Chilean interest in Canadian experience
with the engagement of civil society in trade negotiations, as well as to South American interest in the Canadian
connectivity infrastructure initiative.
The visit is timely, as Canada is preparing to host the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April 2001. Canada will
play a key role in facilitating the development of several positive initiatives.
"The deepening of Canada's bilateral relationships will help strengthen Canada's position within the hemisphere leading up
to the Summit," said Mr. Pettigrew. "The Summit will bring the hemisphere together to further our common economic,
social and political interests."
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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
(613) 995-1874
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