NEWS RELEASES
FTAA: OBJECTIVE 2005
November 1, 2002 (5:45 p.m. EST) No. 137
FTAA: OBJECTIVE 2005
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew and his 33 counterparts of the Western hemisphere today
concluded in Quito, Ecuador, an important phase in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations,
and charted a course to complete talks by the January 2005 target date.
Ministers agreed to advance the release of the second version of the consolidated draft negotiating texts of the
FTAA agreement. This follows the ground-breaking decision, promoted by Canada at last year's FTAA
Ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires, to release the first draft. The second draft texts, initially scheduled for
release at the next Summit of the Americas, will be made available today in the four official languages of the
FTAA negotiations--English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
"Canada achieved its goals at this meeting by keeping these negotiations on track to yield benefits for
Canadian exporters and consumers, as well as for the citizens of the hemisphere as a whole," said Minister
Pettigrew. "The release of the latest draft FTAA texts confirms the new culture of transparency in trade
negotiations, which Canada has championed."
Ministers also ensured that the FTAA will continue to contribute to the broader Summit of the Americas
process, including in such priority areas as the protection and conservation of the environment and the
promotion of labour rights.
"Our work this week was greatly aided by the contributions of a broad spectrum of representatives of civil
society," added Mr. Pettigrew. "The views we heard are proof of the health and strength of the democracies of
the Americas, and they will constantly remind us that the FTAA must benefit all the citizens of the hemisphere."
Other key results from Friday's meeting included:
- an agreement on a Hemispheric Cooperation Program to provide technical assistance and support
promoting effective participation in the FTAA process by smaller economies;
- a re-affirmation of the participants' determination to eliminate agricultural export subsidies, and to seek a
balanced overall package of significant results for other measures affecting agricultural trade in both the
FTAA and World Trade Organization negotiations; and
- the transfer of the chair of the FTAA process from Ecuador to Brazil and the United States, who will co-chair
the final phase of negotiations.
The complete final statement from the Ministerial meeting and the second draft FTAA texts will be available on
the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's FTAA Web site at: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/ftaa_neg-e.asp
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
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
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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