Current Negotiations of Labour Cooperation Agreements
Canada-Central America Four Negotiations
At the Canada-Central America Summit in Guatemala on September 28, 2000, Canada agreed to a request by the leaders of the Central America Four countries (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua) to begin free trade negotiations, including complementary labour and environmental cooperation agreements. On November 21, 2001, these negotiations were launched.
Canadian and Central American officials met in Ottawa for the tenth round of formal negotiations, February 16-20, 2004. Parties continued a productive exchange of views and proposals over the course of the week. Considerable progress was achieved in negotiations on the draft labour cooperation agreement. No date has been identified for a potential final round of negotiations.
Useful Links
Updates on the Canada-CA4 Free Trade Agreements
The International Labour Organization’s Programme to Promote the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
El Salvador’s Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
Honduras’ Ministry of Industry and Trade
Nicaragua's Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Labour
Guatemala’s Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
Canada-Singapore Negotiations
On October 21, 2001, then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced the launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement between Canada and Singapore that will be complemented by environmental and labour cooperation agreements. The announcement was made in Shanghai, China during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting. The Government of Canada undertook broad and comprehensive consultations with the provinces and territories, the Canadian public, labour, businesses and non-governmental organizations.
Formal negotiation sessions towards a labour cooperation agreement took place in June and November 2002 and in October 2003.
Information on the Canada-Singapore free trade talks is available on the Canada-Singapore page maintained by International Trade Canada. For information on Canada-Singapore negotiations for an Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, see Environment Canada's Canada-Singapore page.
To find out more about Singapore, visit Singapore's Ministry of Manpower website or the Singapore Country/Market Information page, maintained by Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada.
Canada-Korea Negotiations
Negotiations for a Canada-Korea bilateral free trade were launched on July 15, 2005 . Canada will negotiate environmental and labour cooperation agreements in parallel with the free trade agreement with the first substantive round of negotiations expected to be held early in the fall of 2005.
In January 2005, International Trade Minister Peterson had launched domestic consultations with business, citizen-based organizations and individual Canadians, as well as with the provincial and territorial governments, to obtain advice and views on priorities, objectives and concerns to help define the possible scope of this initiative. In parallel with these consultations, government officials from both countries took part in two rounds of exploratory discussions (the first from January 25-26, 2005 in Seoul , Korea ; and the second from March 31 – April 1, 2005 in Ottawa ).
For information about the negotiations with the Republic of Korea, please visit the following pages on the International Trade Canada website.
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/RB/korea-en.asp
http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.asp?publication_id=382812&Language=E&docnumber=127
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/IYT/consult-regbil-en.asp#korea