Further Opportunities
Competition
Policy | Culture | Government
Procurement |
Electronic Commerce | Intellectual
Property | Boycott Policy
Competition Policy
It is in Canada's interest for its trading partners to have transparent
and predictable competition policy regimes. Competition law and
policy contribute to the efficient functioning of markets by addressing
practices among firms that can undermine competition, such as cartels
that fix prices or abuses by a dominant firm. It is important to
the trade agenda to ensure that such anti-competitive practices
do not minimize the benefits of trade and investment liberalization.
To learn more...
Culture
Canada has a long history of supporting cultural diversity. Cultural
products are fundamental to our sense of Canadian identity and community
and it is therefore important to promote the Canadian cultural sector
at home and abroad while affording Canadians the benefits of trade
liberalization. Canada is committed to maintaining flexibility to
achieve domestic cultural objectives, while remaining open to other
cultures.
-
An International Agreement on Cultural Diversity
Further to a report prepared by the Cultural Industries Sectoral
Advisory Group on International Trade (SAGIT) entitled "An
International Agreement on Cultural Diversity: A Model for Discussion"(html
| pdf), Canada was an active
participant in the negotiations for the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention
on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
Expressions. The text of the Convention meets Canada’s
core objectives: it recognizes the dual nature of cultural goods
and services (i.e. having both an economic and social value);
re-affirms the right of governments to adopt policies to support
cultural expression and places this agreement on an equal footing
with other treaties while respecting existing obligations. Canada
accepted this Convention on November 23, 2005.
-
The World Trade Organization:
From Doha and Beyond
Mr. Sergio Marchi, Canada's Ambassador to the WTO, addresses
the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.
Date: June 10, 2002
Place: Banff, Alberta
-
Government Response to the SCFAIT Report:
Canadian Culture in a Global World: New Strategies for Culture
and Trade
The report of the Sectoral Advisory Groups on International
Trade (SAGIT) recommended that Canada pursue a new international
instrument on cultural diversity. The House of Commons Standing
Committees on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT),
and Canadian Heritage, held hearings and concluded by supporting
this recommendation. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade and Canadian Heritage carried out extensive consultations
on this issue. The Government responded on November 15, 1999.
Link to the Government Response to the SCFAIT Report - Recommendations
28 and 29
-
Canadian Culture in a Global
World: New Strategies for Culture and Trade
The Cultural Industries Sectoral Advisory Group on International
Trade (SAGIT) released a report entitled "Canadian Culture
in a Global World: New Strategies for Culture and Trade"
on February 17, 1999. The report puts forward ideas on how Canada
can continue to promote cultural diversity in a changing world.
The report is part of the broad based consultations on Canadian
trade policy that is taking place across many sectors.
-
Discussion Paper -
May 1999
- Related links:
Government Procurement
Governments, suppliers, and taxpayers have all benefitted from
the efforts to open government procurement markets. Government procurement
agreements help to ensure that Canadian suppliers of goods and services
are treated in an open, transparent and nondiscriminatory manner
when they sell to governments outside of Canada. Learn more about
Canada's government procurement in trade agreements and negotiations.
To learn more...
Electronic Commerce
Canada believes that electronic commerce provides new ways of doing
business, opens new business opportunities and that it is still
commerce rather than a new sector. Canada considers that existing
multilateral agreements and frameworks already apply to electronic
commerce. To learn more...
Intellectual Property
The emphasis on innovation as a measure of global competitiveness
as well as the growth in participation of the Canadian economy in
global trade have made the international dimension of intellectual
property policy increasingly important. There are numerous well
established international conventions specifically relating to the
protection of intellectual property rights, some dating back over
a century. These conventions are administered through the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). To
learn more...
Boycott Policy
The Government's Boycott Policy was announced in 1976. It remains
in effect. To learn more...
|
