Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)
Speeches and News Releases
Letter from Canada to the FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC)
Co-Chairs
September 1, 2005
Ambassador Peter F. Allgeier
Co-Chairman
FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee |
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Ambassador Adhemar G. Bahadian
Co-Chairman
FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee |
Dear Ambassador Allgeier and Ambassador Bahadian,
I am writing to express Canada’s ongoing strong support
for the resumption and conclusion of negotiations towards the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
Since the suspension of the February 2004 Trade Negotiations Committee
(TNC) meeting, Canada has been supportive of the Co-chairs’
efforts to resolve outstanding issues regarding the implementation
of the new negotiating structure arising from the Miami Ministerial
with a view to setting the stage for the resumption of negotiations.
In this regard, we believe that it is now highly desirable for the
Co-Chairs to convene a meeting of all FTAA participants, at the
Vice-Ministerial level, by mid-October 2005.
Such a meeting will be important, inter alia, to develop appropriate
language on the FTAA for the November 4-5 Summit of the Americas
in Argentina. It is also critical in terms of securing funding for
the continued operation of the Administrative Secretariat beyond
December 2005. As you are aware, these issues were discussed at
the August 25, 2005 informal meeting convened by the Government
of Mexico to discuss issues related to the Administrative Secretariat,
where the majority of delegations, including Canada, expressed their
full support for the early resumption of the FTAA negotiations and
for the Co-chairs to call a meeting of all delegations before November
2005.
In Canada’s view, the FTAA remains an integral element of
the broader Summit of the Americas process and a vital instrument
for promoting, inter alia, economic growth and job creation.
Please be assured of Canada’s continued support for your
efforts as Co-Chairs of the FTAA process to move forward the negotiations
to which leaders of the hemisphere have repeatedly expressed their
commitment. We hope you will give our request for an early meeting
of all FTAA participants favourable consideration.
Yours Sincerely,
Elaine Feldman
Chief Negotiator for Canada,
FTAA
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