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<title>WTO PANEL REPORT ON AUSTRALIAN BAN OFCANADIAN SALMON</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">May 8, 1998 No. 113</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">WTO PANEL REPORT ON AUSTRALIAN BAN OF</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADIAN SALMON</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi and David Anderson, Minister of
Fisheries and Oceans, confirmed today that Canada and Australia have received the
final report from the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel
regarding Australia's ban on imports of fresh, chilled and frozen salmon from
Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Under WTO rules and procedures, Panel reports remain confidential until the final
report is circulated to all WTO members, at which time it becomes public. The
Panel report on salmon is not expected to be circulated to all WTO members until
June. Canada's position has been to honour the confidentiality rules. However,
in this particular instance, the Ministers feel compelled to respond to a media
release issued on May 6, 1998, by the Australian government, which discussed the
details of the confidential report.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I regret that the Australia media release comments directly on the Panel's
findings and recommendations in violation of the confidentiality rules," said Mr.
Marchi. "Under the circumstances, I think it is important to clarify Australia's
misleading statement that the Panel did not recommend the removal of Australia's
import ban," said Mr. Marchi.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The Panel has found that Australia's ban is inconsistent with several provisions
of the WTO Agreement, and has recommended that the Dispute Settlement Body
request Australia to bring its measure into conformity with its obligations under
the Agreement. In Canada's view, this means that Australia must lift the ban,"
added the Minister.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada has consistently taken the position that there is no scientific basis for
Australia's ban," said Minister Anderson. "Canada exports fresh and frozen salmon
to approximately 50 countries, and the quality of our product is recognized
worldwide. Australia is the only country that bans these </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">products. A lifting of the Australian ban would provide important commercial
benefits to Canadian fishermen and processors."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Australia's ban was first introduced in 1975. After years of unsuccessful
bilateral efforts to resolve the dispute, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body
established a panel on April 10, 1997, at Canada's request.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The objective of the WTO is to secure and enhance market access in goods,
services, and intellectual property through predictable, transparent, and
enforceable trade rules. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the WTO was
established by the Marrakesh Declaration in 1994, and came into force in 1995. </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Leslie Swartman</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Athana Mentzelopoulos</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 996-0076</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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