Notice to media

MINISTER MITCHELL IN COLOMBIA FOR TRADE TALKS

OTTAWA, March 30, 2005 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell will be in Cartagena, Colombia, March 30 to April 1 for meetings with his colleagues in the Cairns Group.

Mr. Mitchell will reaffirm Canada's commitment to working with other Cairns Group members to achieve ambitious reforms in agricultural trade at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Cairns Group is a coalition of 17 exporting countries dedicated to creating a level international playing field for agricultural trade.

Mr. Mitchell heads to the Cairns Group meeting after a brief visit to Cuba today where he will meet with Minister of Agriculture Alfredo Jordán Morales, other Cuban government ministers and with Canadian and Cuban industry representatives to promote increased trade between our two countries.

Photos and updates from the meetings in Colombia will be posted over the next few days on the newsroom section of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's website at http://www.agr.gc.ca

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
1 866 345-7972 Toll-free
(613) 759-7972 Local