NEWS RELEASES

July 6, 2001 (2:15 p.m. EDT) No. 99

WTO OPENS ITS DOORS TO DISCUSSION

International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew welcomed the positive step that the WTO is taking to provide citizens with an opportunity to contribute to the international debate on trade. The WTO's Symposium on Issues Confronting the World Trading System is being held in Geneva, Switzerland on July 6 and 7.

"As we prepare for the WTO ministerial meeting this November in Qatar, I am pleased that interested parties will have another opportunity to express their views on how this international trade institution can benefit all segments of society," said Mr. Pettigrew. "Providing this opportunity is a positive step in ensuring that citizens become more engaged in the WTO."

Representatives from governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the media and members of the academic and business communities will be participating in plenary sessions and discussions on international trade. Special sessions during the two-day symposium will focus on trade in agriculture, food safety, intellectual property rights, development and environment issues, trade in services, and the relationship between the WTO and citizen groups.

Minister Pettigrew noted that this symposium is one of a number of recommendations that Canada made to the WTO last October to help it become more transparent and open to the public. Two Canadians, Dr. Sylvia Ostry from the University of Toronto and David Runnalls, President of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, will chair panel discussions. Ten Canadian NGOs representing a variety of sectors will attend the Symposium, which is sponsored in part by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

More information on the Symposium can be found at the following Web site: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/ngo_symp_2001_e.htm. A report on the Symposium will also be available on the Department's Web site in the near future at: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/what-e.asp

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A list of participating Canadian NGOs is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

CANADIAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ATTENDING THE SYMPOSIUM

The following Canadian NGOs and individuals are registered to take part in the event:

Canadian Wheat Board (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Dairy Farmers of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario)

World Wildlife Fund Canada (Toronto, Ontario)

International Development Research Centre (Ottawa, Ontario)

International Institute for Sustainable Development (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Canadian Council for International Co-operation (Ottawa, Ontario)

North-South Institute (Ottawa, Ontario)

World Federalists of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario)

Individuals affiliated with the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia) and the University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta) will also attend.