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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 22, 2006 <i>(4:55 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 140</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA APPLAUDS WTO RULING ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED
ORGANISM IMPORTS</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable
Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian
Wheat Board, today welcomed the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) adoption of a
ruling against the European Union (EU) treatment of imports of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs).</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Our government has long argued that there was no scientific basis for the EU to delay
the approval of GMO imports from Canada, which created an unjustified barrier to
trade,” said Minister Emerson. “This ruling will enable Canadian producers to access
European markets and effectively market their products.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This ruling is a big win for the Canadian agriculture industry, and in particular the
biotechnology sector,” added Minister Strahl. “Canadian developers, producers,
processors and exporters are at the forefront of the industry, and can now export their
innovative technologies and products to European markets.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Significantly, the WTO panel accepted Canada’s argument that the EU had imposed an
unjustified moratorium on the approval of biotechnology products during the period from
June 1999 to August 2003, which amounted to an effective ban on the import of these
products. The panel also found that the national bans imposed on GMOs by five EU
members were not justified.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">This victory is timely, as the demand for oilseeds in Europe is growing as a result of
European Union policy to promote the use of bio-diesel. This WTO decision has the
potential to significantly benefit Canadian producers, who grow a number of grain and
oilseed varieties that were not approved under the moratorium.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The EU has indicated that it will not appeal this decision.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jennifer Chiu<br>
Press Secretary<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics<br>
613-992-7332</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Trade Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-996-2000<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221093209/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Jeff Howard<br>
Press Secretary<br>
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat
Board<br>
613-759-1059</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations<br>
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada<br>
613-759-7972<br>
1-866-345-7972<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221093209/http://www.agr.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.agr.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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