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World Trade Organisation
Discussion Papers

General Information

In its capacity as a key economic advisor to the government, and given the importance of trade and investment to the Canadian economy, the Department of Finance actively participates in the development and negotiation of trade matters respecting goods, services, and investment.

The Department is responsible for key aspects of Canada's import policy, including the Customs Tariff and trade remedy legislation under the Special Import Measures Act.

In view of these responsibilities, the Department takes a lead role in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and other federal government departments in the negotiation and implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules respecting subsidies and trade remedies. The Department also works in partnership with DFAIT and other government departments on the issues of market access, investment, and services.

In preparation for the upcoming WTO Ministerial meeting in November 1999, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has co-ordinated the preparation of a number of discussion papers aimed at providing information and seeking public input on issues that may be on the agenda in the next round of WTO negotiations.

• See the Canada Gazette Notice, Consultations for Trade Negotiations (February 6, 1999)  for full details about the scope and purpose of these papers.

Listed below are the discussion papers prepared by the Department of Finance in consultation with other government departments concerning anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing duties, safeguards, and market access (industrial tariffs).

Papers about investment and services are available on the Industry Canada web site.  

• Consultation Paper on WTO/FTAA Investment.
• Opening Doors to the World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities 1999.

Papers about other subjects are available on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada web site.

• See the Trade Agreements - Discussion Papers page.

Interested parties are invited to submit their views to the address included in the Canada Gazette Notice referred to above.

Discussion Papers

March 1999

• A Discussion Paper on Anti-Dumping Measures - 
  (Adobe Acrobat Version 79,582 bytes)
  Preparations for Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
• Discussion Paper on Safeguards -
  Preparations for Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
• A Discussion Paper on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures -
  (Adobe Acrobat Version 51,119 bytes)
  Preparations for Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
• Developing a Canadian Position on Possible WTO Industrial Goods Tariff and NTMs Negotiations  
  (Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada WWW site).