NEWS RELEASES

The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today expressed their disappointment following World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy’s announcement that the latest round of WTO negotiations—the Doha Development Agenda—has been suspended until further notice.

“Despite enormous efforts by all WTO members and 11th-hour meetings between G6 participants, the gaps in negotiating positions proved to be too large to bridge within the current time frame,” said Minister Emerson. “This is very disappointing for Canada and for all developed and developing countries, given the significant economic benefits that could have been achieved through an ambitious outcome to these negotiations.”

“Canadian agricultural producers and processors, as well as other manufacturers and service providers, would benefit from the expanded market access that the Doha Round was aiming to achieve,” he added. “We are a nation that depends heavily on international commerce, and our government will continue to focus on more liberalized trade, the rules-based multilateral trading system and the objectives behind Doha negotiations.”

Canada remains deeply committed to the WTO, the only international organization dedicated to promoting the rules of trade between countries.

“Although this is a serious setback, Canada remains committed to pursuing opportunities and seeking a fairer international trade environment for our agricultural producers and processors,” said Minister Strahl. “We will continue to advance the interests of Canada’s agriculture sector, including both supply-managed and export-oriented industries.”

Canada will continue to consult with provinces, territories and stakeholders to determine how best to pursue its trade objectives.

Canada will also continue to pursue regional and bilateral trade initiatives that serve its future commercial interests.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Jennifer Chiu
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
613-992-7332

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
http://www.international.gc.ca

Jeff Howard
Press Secretary
Minister Strahl’s Office
613-759-1059

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