News 2004
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December 23, 2004
A Cultural Odyssey Lands in Europe: the 2004 Canada Promotion in Munich, Germany
Sometimes a successful trade event is measured not by the volume of goods moved, but the exchange of a single unit to a very satisfied customer. Such was the scene at the Ludwig Beck department store in Munich, Germany, during the Canada Promotion 2004. This issue of Success Stories features seven Aboriginal artists who are marketing their trade in Munich, one of the retail hubs in the new Europe.
December 7, 2004
Canada Trade Mission to Brazil:
Showing Canada's Business Strengths
This issue of Success Stories showcases some of Canada's sectors of excellence—from agriculture, healthcare and environmental technologies to voice-processing systems, instrumentation services and expertise, software and digital hearing solutions—that are meeting with commercial success in Brazil. Representatives of the following six Canadian companies were part of the trade mission led by International Trade Minister Jim Peterson to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo from November 21 to 25.
November 23, 2004
Canadian Companies Well Positioned in Brazil, South America's Emerging Market
Brazil is on Canada's radar screen. As South America's economic and demographic giant and a gateway to MERCOSUR, the country has captured the attention of business competitors from around the world. And Canada is taking action. International Trade Minister Jim Peterson is leading his first trade mission to Brazil from November 21 to 25. With more than 50 Canadian businesses in attendance, this mission is targeting the expansion of Canadian trade and investment and the strengthening of business contacts in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, strategic hubs for commerce in the region. This issue of Success Stories features Canadian companies that are riding Brazil's new wave of prosperity. Byrd Amendment
Notice seeking comments on possible trade retaliation in response to the failure of the Government of the United States to repeal the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, commonly known as the Byrd Amendment. To learn more...
November 18, 2004
November 10, 2004
The New Consulate General in Miami: Increased Support to the Canada-Florida Economic Partnership
To reflect Florida’s rapidly growing population and economy, Canada’s representation in Miami has been upgraded from a consulate to a consulate general in order to provide a wider range of services, as part of the Government of Canada’s Enhanced Representation Initiative (ERI). Canada’s Consulate General in Miami will open officially on November 15, 2004. This issue of Success Stories features Canadian companies doing business in the sunshine state.
October 26, 2004
- Final Report on 2004 Regional Consultations
The Government of Canada has completed its 2004 Regional Consultations
on Trade in Services. Read the Final
Report Refining Canada's Services Trade Negotiating Strategy
October 22, 2004
Canada and Mexico: A Growing Partnership
This year, Canada and Mexico are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations through a wide range of cultural, commercial, academic and bilateral events. The visit to Canada by Mexican President Vicente Fox and an impressive ministerial and business delegation, from October 24 to 26, is undoubtedly one of the key elements of these celebrations. It will provide officials with the opportunity to explore how to further enhance bilateral relations. This issue of Success Stories features Canadian businesses that have successfully entered the Mexican market, epitomizing the vibrant trade relations that have developed between our two countries since NAFTA came into effect.
October 8, 2004
China and India: Deepening Trade With Emerging Markets
Among the priorities that Canada has identified for a 21st-century economy is the need to build closer economic ties with powerful emerging markets such as China and India. It takes just a glimpse at international trade statistics to understand why Canadian businesses are keen to deepen trade with these countries and establish a stronger presence there. In 2003, the Chinese economy grew an impressive nine percent, while the Indian economy enjoyed an eight percent increase. Last year, China also replaced the United States as the top destination for global foreign direct investment, attracting US$53.5 billion. Against the backdrop of the Asia Pacific Summit, this issue of Success Stories profiles Canadian companies that are successfully doing business in China and India.
September 29, 2004
Spotlight on Innovative Acadian Companies
Throughout 2004, Acadians all around the world, from New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to the Magdalen Islands, France and Louisiana, have been celebrating 400 years of French presence in America. They are commemorating the arrival from France in 1604 of Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, who founded the first French colony, Acadia, on the Nova Scotia peninsula. In the context of the Atlantic Economic Summit, held September 28 and 29 in Moncton under the auspices of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, this issue of Success Stories features Acadian companies that have enjoyed success internationally.
September 16, 2004
Aboriginal businesses conquering new markets
The Aboriginal peoples of the Americas will be in the spotlight on September 21 when a new Smithsonian Institution building, the National Museum of the American Indian, is inaugurated in Washington, D.C. The museum, in which Canada has played an important role, will feature the major cultural contributions of the First Nations of the Americas. As trade develops among First Nations, Aboriginal companies are enjoying more and more success in export markets, as this edition of Success Stories attests.
September 1, 2004
- Peterson pleased with WTO
Arbitration decision on U.S. Byrd Amendment
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson is pleased that World
Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrators accepted Canada’s request
to link the level of retaliation to the amount of payments made
to United States producers under the Byrd Amendment in a given
year. Canada will continue to assess its options; any decision
on whether to move forward with retaliatory measures against the
U.S. would be preceded by public consultations...
August 30, 2004
-
WTO upholds favourable
Ruling on Canadian Wheat Board
The Government of Canada welcomed today’s World Trade
Organization (WTO) Appellate Body report, which confirms the
findings in an earlier WTO Panel report that the practices of
the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) are consistent with Canada’s
international trade obligations...
August 26, 2004
- When Canada celebrates film
The opening of the Montreal World Film Festival on August
26, 2004, will mark the beginning of Canada's coast-to-coast celebration
of film. In fact, from August 26 to October 8, movie buffs from
Montreal,
Toronto,
Halifax
and Vancouver
will flock to theatres to take in as many movies as they can.
It will also be an opportunity for Canada's film industry to establish
a presence in the many film markets presented each year in conjunction
with the festivals. This issue of Success
Stories features some of the Canadian film and television
production companies that have distinguished themselves in export
markets.
August 11, 2004
-
Canadian companies capture Olympus
With the lighting of the Olympic cauldron on
August 13, all eyes will be on Athens for several weeks. The
Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to mark the beginning
of a new tourist boom in Greece, following a long period involving
the construction of sports facilities and the modernization
of tourism, airport, urban transit and road infrastructure.
This issue of Success Stories
features just some of the Canadian companies that have contributed
their expertise to the 2004 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games
in Athens.
-
The Government of Canada
is seeking the views of Canadians on the implications for Canadian
trade in services of the enlargement of the European Union (EU)
Services trade negotiators are currently considering how EU
enlargement will affect our trade interests under the General
Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
August 9, 2004
July 19, 2004
July 16, 2004
-
NAFTA Partners
Recommit to the Full Implementation of NAFTA
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson met with United States
Trade Representative Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, and Mexican
Secretary of the Economy Fernando Canales at the 10th annual
ministerial meeting of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) Commission in San Antonio, Texas. The ministers reaffirmed
their commitment to build on NAFTA's achievements over the last
decade with a view to generating continued strong growth in
trade and investment in North America. To learn more...
July 8, 2004
-
Casa Bella: Canadian Design in Homes around the World
(Part One)
We may not be aware of it, but design influences our lives every
day. The office we work in, the cellphone we use, the chair
we sit in, the lights we read by, the car we drive, the wine
glasses we drink our favourite Cabernet from, the signs in the
streets or supermarket and even our shampoo bottle are all products
of design. We can easily recognize poor design when something
is not comfortable or we cannot read the directions on a package
properly, but we often take good design for granted. We are
not aware that, behind that elegant sofa or pretty park, many
hours of work went into the design to try and improve our quality
of life. This issue of Stories
of the Week profiles other Canadian design companies
who have successfully exported their home decor designs around
the world.
June 25, 2004
-
Informal Discussions
in the WTO Negotiating Group on Trade Rules
Technical Papers Submitted by Canada With a view to helping
to advance the work of the Negotiating Group, informal technical
discussions are taking place in the Negotiating Group on Trade
Rules on issues previously identified by Members for negotiation.
To learn more...
June 23, 2004
-
Bursting with Energy: Canadian Oil and Gas Companies
a Global Success
Most Canadians would assume that the first commercial oil well
in North America was drilled in oil-rich Texas - the land of
"black gold" - but, in fact, it was drilled in Ontario in 1858.
As one of the world's top ten oil and gas producers, with a
long history of petroleum exploration and development, Canada
has become a leader in this international industry. Canadian
companies—mostly small and medium-size enterprises—export energy-related
expertise, products and services, including environmental protection
technology and safety training, to other oil- and gas-producing
regions and countries, such as Asia, the Middle East, South
America, the Caspian Sea area, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine.
This issue of Stories of the
Week features three such companies.
-
Report of the Third Triennial
Review of the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement
The Government of Canada participated in the Third Triennial
Review of the World Trade Organization's Technical Barriers
to Trade Agreement. The Review was completed on November 11,
2003, resulting in the Review Report which, among other things,
provides a basis for the workplan in the Technical Barriers
to Trade Committee over the next three years.
June 16, 2004
June 14, 2004
-
Canada's Leading Edge in the Global Biotech Market
Over the last 80 years, the work of Canadian scientists and
researchers has helped establish Canada's international reputation
for scientific excellence and creativity. Their pioneering research
has contributed significantly to several groundbreaking discoveries:
insulin and its treatment of diabetes in 1922 by Sir Frederick
Banting; a vaccine for tuberculosis in the 1930s; and, more
recently, the gene that causes cystic fibrosis and the genetic
link between apolipoprotein and the most common form of Alzheimer's
disease; among many others. This issue of Stories
of the Week features three companies that have succeeded
in exporting Canada's biotech expertise...
May 20, 2004
-
"She's Got It": Canadian Women Entrepreneurs
ust as women in Canada have made great strides over the last
50 years, entering into all aspects of work life, from medicine
and law to firefighting and policing, to space exploration and
diplomacy, so have they become more active in business, in particular,
as business owners. Women entrepreneurs owned, or partially
owned, 45% of Canadian small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs)
in 2000. This issue of Stories
of the Week profiles four women entrepreneurs who have
successfully made the transition to global exporter...
-
Canada's updated Foreign Investment
Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPA)
The Government of Canada today released its updated FIPA model.
A FIPA is a bilateral treaty aimed at protecting and promoting
foreign investment through legally-binding rights and obligations.
FIPAs support Canada's trade and economic objectives and key
international priorities such as strengthening access to priority
markets and enhancing prospects for increased flows of foreign
investment to developing countries.
May 14, 2004
-
Canada-Singapore:
Initial Environmental Assessment
In keeping with the Framework for Conducting Environmental Assessments
of Trade Negotiations, an initial environmental assessment(EA)
of the Canada-Singapore free trade negotiations has been conducted
to help negotiators to better integrate environmental considerations
into the negotiating process. The Initial Environmental Assessment
is being released for a 60-day public consultation period. Send
your comments by July 14, 2004...
May 10, 2004
-
"Reading Canada" - The Success of Canadian Publishers
and Writers Abroad
Margaret Atwood, Marie-Claire Blais, Nicole Brossard, Timothy
Findley, Anne Hébert, Anne-Marie MacDonald, Alistair MacLeod,
Yann Martel, Rohinton Mistry, Alice Munro, Michael Ondaatje,
Nino Ricci, Carol Shields and Michel Tremblay all share something
more than their nationality. They are among Canada's best-known
authors around the world, and their books have been translated
into almost as many languages as there are letters in the alphabet—from
Arabic to Ukrainian. This issue of Stories
of the Week features three publishers that participated
in this year's hugely successful London Book Fair...
April 30, 2004
April 23, 2004
-
Through the Lens: Exporting Canadian Film and Animation
Denys Arcand winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in February
for his The Barbarian Invasions capped the international acclaim
the movie has received since it first premiered. It has been
screened in cinemas around the world, and won two awards at
the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, as well as awards for Best Film
at the 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival and for Best
International Picture at the 2003 European Film Awards in Berlin.
This week’s edition of Stories
of the Week features four companies that have achieved
international success in exporting their film, television, documentary
and animation productions.
-
Canada's International Market
Access Priorities
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today released the
government's annual report on Canada's market access priorities
for 2004. Entitled Opening Doors to the World: Canada's International
Market Access Priorities - 2004, the report highlights the successes
of 2003 and sets out the objectives the government will continue
to pursue over the coming year. For
more information...
April 6, 2004
-
Canada's Enhanced Presence in the Southeast United
States
Last September, the government announced that it was opening
seven new consulates in the United States, upgrading two consulates
to consulates general and appointing 20 honorary consuls as
part of the Enhanced Representation Initiative to advocate Canada's
interests in vital economic, political and security matters,
and to develop innovative strategic partnerships in emerging
U.S. economic power centres. This edition of Stories
of the Week features three companies who are active
in the Southeast market...
April 2, 2004
-
Results of the
Informal Consultations in Buenos Aires
Canada and a group of other FTAA participants took part in informal
consultations in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 31 and April
1, 2004 to discuss the preparation of guidance to the FTAA negotiating
groups in accordance with the new framework for the FTAA agreed
by Ministers in Miami last November....
March 31, 2004
March 30, 2004
-
Canadian Companies Succeed in Another Emerging Market:
Brazil
Minister of State (New and Emerging Markets) Gar Knutson visited
Brazil from March 21 to 27, 2004, to discuss ways to enhance
trade and investment between Canada and Brazil. This edition
of Stories of the Week
features three Canadian companies that have been very successful
at doing business in Brazil...
March 22, 2004
March 19 2004
-
Canada and the European Union: Strengthening Trade
Relations
Economic relations between Canada and the European Union (EU)
are solid and dynamic. We are major investors and leading trade
partners to each other. After the United States, the EU is Canada's
second-largest trade and investment partner. This edition of
Stories of the Week
features Canadian firms doing business with EU countries...
March 8, 2004
-
Central America trade mission led by Minister of State
(New and Emerging Markets) Gar Knutson-Focus on Canadian companies
doing business in Central America
Minister of State (New and Emerging Markets) Gar Knutson led
the Central America Circuit, a trade mission of 39 representatives
from 26 Canadian companies, to Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa
Rica and Panama from March 1 to 5, 2004, to enhance our commercial
relations with the region. The companies represented various
sectors such as agri-food and beverages, construction and building
products, and environmental services and technologies. This
edition of Stories of the Week
features three Canadian companies taking advantage of the growing
opportunities in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama...
March 4, 2004
February 26, 2004
-
KPMG International Business Cost Study-Focus on companies
who have found it profitable to invest in Canada
On February 18, the 2004 KPMG Competitive Alternatives
international business cost study was released, the fifth consecutive
report of its kind to rank Canada as the most cost-competitive
country in which to do business. The KPMG Competitive Alternatives
study presents an analysis of business costs in 11 industrialized
countries, including all the G7 countries plus Australia, Iceland,
the Netherlands and Luxembourg. This edition of Stories
of the Week features four companies that have taken
up this proposition and successfully invested in Canada...
February 19, 2004
-
New and Emerging Markets-Canadian Companies in China
As part of his mandate to raise Canada's profile in expanding
and dynamic markets, and to brand Canada as a 21st century economy
and a business partner of choice, the Minister of State (New
and Emerging Markets), Gar Knutson, is visiting China from February
13 to 21, 2004. Canada's trade with China is diverse, representing
a broad cross-section of Canada's economy, from resources and
agriculture to software and biotechnology. Over 400 Canadian
companies now have a permanent presence in China. This edition
of Stories of the Week
features three of these companies...
-
Interim Results of the
17th Trade Negotiations Committee Meeting - Puebla,
Mexico (February 2-6, 2004)
February 16, 2004
February 12, 2004
February 10, 2004
February 3, 2004
-
New and Emerging Markets-Canadian Companies in India
To help Canadian companies find new approaches to mutually beneficial
engagement with countries such as India, China and Brazil, a
portfolio for Minister of State (New and Emerging Markets) has
been created. This edition of Stories
of the Week provides an update on four Canadian companies
who were part of the trade delegation to Delhi and Mumbai two
years ago...
January 28, 2004
-
First Telemedicine Trade Mission to Mexico
The first telemedicine trade mission to Mexico City, Mexico,
which is taking place on January 28 and 29, includes a Canadian
delegation of top business leaders, researchers and academics.
This week's edition of Stories
of the Week features Canadian companies in the telemedicine
sector that are participating in the trade mission to Mexico
City...
January 21, 2004
-
OECD Trade Committee
Fifth Annual Informal Consultation with Civil Society
On October 20th the OECD Trade Committee held its
5th annual consultations with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
on trade matters. Interventions throughout the day focused on
identifying actions for OECD member countries, and the OECD
itself, to ensure meaningful progress on post-Cancun WTO negotiations...
-
Davos Plays Host to 2004 World Economic Forum
The 34th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is
taking place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 21 to 25. The
theme of the meeting, which is expected to attract more than
2,100 participants from 94 countries, is "Partnering for Security
and Prosperity." In this week's edition of Stories
of the Week we look at Canadian firms doing business
in the United Kingdom and India...
January 15, 2004
-
Canada requests retaliation authorisation regarding
the Byrd Amendment
The United States was given 11 months (until December 27, 2003)
to comply with a WTO Appellate Body report finding the Byrd
Amendment inconsistent with international trade law. The United
States has not complied by the deadline. In an effort to protect
its rights, Canada, along with other complainants, has submitted
to the WTO a request for retaliation authorisation. The request
will be considered at a special Dispute Settlement Body meeting
on January 26. Find out more...
-
Canada Welcomes U.S. Commitment
to Revive Doha Round of Global Trade Talks
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today welcomed and
commended the decision by the U.S. to support moving the World
Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round of trade negotiations forward,
a commitment which was conveyed by U.S. Trade Representative
Robert Zoellick in a January 11 letter he sent to all of his
WTO counterparts...
-
Special
Summit of the Americas
From January 12-13, 2004, Canada participated in the Special
Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico. Leaders supported
ongoing FTAA negotiations, acknowledging their contribution
towards Summit objectives...
January 13, 2004
-
Special Summit of the Americas: Providing a Fresh Impetus
to Hemispheric Cooperation
The Special Summit of the Americas is now in full swing in Monterrey,
Mexico. This is the fourth meeting of the leaders of the hemisphere's
34 democracies to discuss the economic, social and political
challenges facing the region. The current summit is focusing
on three main themes: economic growth with equity for reducing
poverty, social development and democratic governance. This
week's edition of Stories of
the Week features Canadian companies that do business
in countries in the hemisphere...
January 6, 2004
-
Thematic Meetings Open
to Civil Society
The FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) instructed in April
2003 the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation
of Civil Society to organise a series of Thematic Meetings open
to all sectors of civil society on issues related to the FTAA
negotiations. The Third Thematic Meeting will be held on Wednesday,
January 28, 2004, in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic,
and will focus on intellectual property rights. The reports,
agenda, lists of participants and other documents related to
these meetings are available on the official
FTAA website. The deadline to register is January 20, 2004.
If you have any questions, please contact us at ftaa.zlea@dfait-maeci.gc.ca.
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