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<title>CANADA TO CHAIR HEMISPHERIC FREE TRADE TALKSFOLLOWING SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">March 19, 1998 No. 64</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA TO CHAIR HEMISPHERIC FREE TRADE TALKS</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">FOLLOWING SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi announced today that Canada has
accepted the request of the hemisphere's nations to chair negotiations on the
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) for the vital, first 18 months after the
Santiago Summit. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This strong endorsement from the region's trade ministers, reached at the FTAA
Ministerial in San José, Costa Rica, also means that Canada will host the next
ministerial meeting in late 1999.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The decision to have Canada chair the FTAA process is a great privilege," said
Mr. Marchi. "It is also a strong vote of confidence in our ability to get the
talks off to a productive start and to guide the process in the critically
important first phase." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada was also instrumental in the establishment of a committee of government
representatives that will receive views from a broad cross-section of society --
such as business, labour, environmental and academic groups -- on how FTAA should
evolve.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The FTAA is a grand project that will affect all our citizens," said the
Minister. I am heartened that the hemisphere's nations agree with Canada that we
must involve all sectors of our societies in an open, transparent manner."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada's role in the FTAA process is one more important step in our diverse
efforts to liberalize trade in the hemisphere," added Minister Marchi. "We have
consolidated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed a free trade
agreement with Chile, and are strengthening our links with Mercosur."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">On March 18, in Costa Rica, Canada signed a Foreign Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Costa Rica, and a Memorandum of Understanding on
Trade and Investment with the Central American Common Market. Canada has also
begun discussions with the Andean Community on developing a closer trade
relationship.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Other key agreements reached at the Ministerial include: </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Negotiating groups should begin their work by the end of September 1998.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Nine negotiating groups have been established on: market access; investment;
services; government procurement; dispute settlement; agriculture; intellectual
property rights; subsidies, antidumping and countervailing duties; and
competition policy. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Negotiations will proceed simultaneously in all areas.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Miami has been chosen as the venue for the negotiations for the next three
years.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> A Consultative Group on Smaller Economies has been created to ensure the
concerns of small nations are taken into account in FTAA talks.</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">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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