MEDIA ADVISORIES

July 8, 2005
No. A/62

MINISTERS TO TRAVEL TO DALIAN, CHINA

International Trade Minister Jim Peterson and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell will travel to Dalian, China, to participate in an informal meeting of World Trade Organization (WTO) ministers from July 12 to 13, 2005.

The ministers will seek to promote Canada’s objectives in all areas of the Doha Development Agenda, and will seek to help advance the negotiations as WTO members prepare for the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005.

The ministers will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with WTO counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting.

On July 11, 2005, Minister Peterson will also participate in the opening ceremony of an Inco joint venture, Inco Advanced Technology Materials Ltd., in Dalian, China. The new plant uses nickel that has been mined and processed in Sudbury, Ontario, and makes it into a specialized product called nickel foam. Nickel foam is used to make rechargeable batteries, which are used in products such as hybrid automobiles.

A call back to interested Canadian media will be organized following the WTO meetings on July 13. A media advisory will be issued providing details.

For more information, please contact:

Jacqueline LaRocque
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
International cell phone: 139-1189-7157

Media Relations Office
International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

Elizabeth Whiting
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
(613) 759-1059

Media Relations Office
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(613) 759-7972
1-866-345-7972
http://www.agr.gc.ca