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<title>PETTIGREW TO LEAD TRADE MISSION TO CHILE</title>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>October 20, 2003 <em>(10:45 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 161</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW TO LEAD TRADE MISSION TO CHILE</strong></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew will lead a trade mission from December 2 to 5, 2003, to generate
new business in Chile for Canadian companies. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Since virtually all of our goods now enter Chile duty free, Canadian companies have improved access to the
growing Chilean market," said Mr. Pettigrew. "Chile has one of the most open and stable economies in Latin
America."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement has been the cornerstone of bilateral trade and investment relations
between the two countries since it was implemented in 1997. Aside from giving preferential access to Canadian
goods, the Agreement also makes the Chilean market more secure for Canadian investments.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Since 1997, two-way trade has increased by 32.3 percent, reaching $950.6 million in 2002. Chile is one of the
most diversified markets for Canadian exports, meaning more products from more sectors are exported there
than to other markets. Leading Canadian exports to Chile include cereals (wheat), machinery, paper and
paperboard, electrical machinery, mineral fuel and oil, and plastics. Canadian investment has increased sharply
since 1992, making Canada one of Chile's largest foreign investors. Canadian foreign direct investment in Chile
reached $5.8 billion in 2002.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The last major Canadian trade mission to Chile took place when Team Canada visited the country in January
1998.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
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<p><font face="Arial">Sébastien Théberge</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220203812/mailto:sebastien.theberge@dfait-maeci.gc.ca"><font face="Arial">sebastien.theberge@dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220203812/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
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