NEWS RELEASES
March 24, 2006 (4:20 p.m. EST)
No. 26
NAFTA MINISTERS COMMIT TO
STRENGTHENING NORTH AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS
International Trade Minister David L. Emerson today met with Mexican Secretary of the
Economy Sergio Garcia de Alba and United States Trade Representative Rob Portman
at the 11th ministerial meeting of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission in Acapulco,
Mexico.
“For over a decade, NAFTA has paved the way for strong economic growth and
prosperity for Canada and its NAFTA partners,” said Minister Emerson. “Today, my
colleagues and I discussed how we can build on NAFTA’s success to ensure that
North America remains the most dynamic and competitive force in the global economy.”
In their joint statement, the ministers recognized NAFTA’s important contributions to
three-way trade and investment flows, contributions that have resulted in increased
competitiveness and prosperity within the North American economic space. They also
noted NAFTA’s proven ability to adapt to changing competitive conditions, citing recent
progress on liberalizing NAFTA’s rules of origin as a commercially relevant change that
will facilitate the flow of billions of dollars in goods and services each year.
Looking ahead, the ministers confirmed their commitment to using NAFTA, the
cornerstone of the North American commercial relationship, to further increase
North American competitiveness in today’s intensely competitive global economy. They
endorsed the need to explore common approaches to removing impediments to the
free flow of goods, services and capital, including work in a number of specific sectors.
They also agreed to examine how Canada, the U.S. and Mexico might collaborate in
the pursuit of free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries and how elements of
new FTAs might inform improvements to NAFTA practices. Detailed recommendations
resulting from work in these areas will be prepared for the ministers’ consideration at
the next Commission meeting. In addition, the ministers reiterated their shared
commitments to a Free Trade Area of the Americas and to a successful conclusion to
the WTO Doha Development Round.
“Canada looks forward to building on the world’s most effective trading relationship—for
the benefit of businesses, workers and consumers in Canada and throughout North
America,” added Minister Emerson, noting that Canada will host the next NAFTA
Commission meeting in late 2006.
Today’s meeting took place as Prime Minister Stephen Harper prepares for his first
meeting with President George W. Bush and President Vicente Fox, scheduled for
March 30 and 31 in Cancun, Mexico.
The full text of the Joint Statement is available at:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/nafta-alena/JS-Acapulco-en.asp
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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) 371-1557
Media Relations Office
International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
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