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<title>EGGLETON MEETS WITH SWEDEN'S TRADE MINISTER </title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">October 21, 1996 No. 193</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">EGGLETON MEETS WITH SWEDEN'S TRADE MINISTER </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">The Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister for International Trade, today met in Ottawa
with His Excellency Björn von Sydow, Minister for Trade of the Kingdom of Sweden,
to discuss bilateral and global trade issues.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Items being discussed during the meeting and working lunch, hosted by
Mr. Eggleton, included: ways of ensuring the best possible outcomes from the
upcoming World Trade Organization meeting of trade ministers, taking place in
Singapore in December; mutual efforts to foster the Canada-European Union
dialogue; and immediate steps to eliminate obstacles to regional and transatlantic
trade.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The similarity in the trade and fiscal challenges and in the opportunities facing
Canada and Sweden, along with the creative approaches that both countries are
applying, led to very useful discussions," said Mr. Eggleton. "Swedish investors
have shown great confidence in Canada as a gateway to the continent and beyond in
recent years, and this visit will help encourage that process to continue."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The volume of trade between Canada and Sweden is increasing rapidly. Swedish
sales to Canada in 1995 totalled $1.1 billion while Canada's sales to Sweden came
to $343 million in the same year. The recent large flow of Swedish investments
into Nova Scotia, Quebec and elsewhere in Canada has helped offset this trade
imbalance.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. von Sydow is on a three-day visit to Canada to follow up on earlier Swedish
and Canadian initiatives to build on the two countries' growing commercial
relationship. He will attend the third annual Canada-Sweden Conference under the
theme "Canada and Sweden -- Partners into the Future."</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">Nicole Bourget</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 996-6271</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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