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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold">June 26, 2006<br>
No. A/28</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold">MINISTERS EMERSON AND STRAHL TO PARTICIPATE IN</span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold">WTO INFORMAL MINISTERIAL MEETING IN GENEVA</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable
Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian
Wheat Board, will represent Canada at the World Trade Organization (WTO) informal
ministerial meeting in Geneva, which will begin on June 30, 2006.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">In Geneva, the ministers will seek to reach agreement on detailed rules and
commitments in the agriculture and non-agricultural market access negotiations. This
would set the stage for efforts to conclude the Doha Development Round of
negotiations by the end of 2006. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The Government of Canada is committed to pursuing a successful outcome to this
meeting that advances Canada’s interests. Canada is seeking an outcome that will
create a more level international playing field for its agriculture and agri-food sector, and
increased market access for its goods and services providers.<span> </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Media representatives wishing to participate in media debriefings by the Canadian
delegation in Geneva must call (613) 996-2000 by 3:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June
28, to register.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Due to the fluid schedule of the WTO meetings in Geneva, media debriefings may be
scheduled on short notice. Those registered will be contacted with teleconference
details for the debriefings.</span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">For more information, please contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Robert Klager<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics<br>
(613) 614-8569</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">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/20071116045024/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">Conrad Bellehumeur<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister <br>
for the Canadian Wheat Board<br>
(613) 759-1059</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations<br>
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada<br>
(613) 759-7972; 1 866 345-7972<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071116045024/http://www.agr.gc.ca/"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.agr.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"> </span></span></span></p>
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