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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">June 27, 2005 <i>(12:40 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 119</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA SEEKS PUBLIC VIEWS ON NAFTA RULES OF ORIGIN
AMENDMENTS </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today announced that the Government of
Canada is seeking public comment on further proposed changes to the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“These proposed amendments would promote the freer flow of goods under NAFTA,”
said Minister Peterson. “The changes will make it easier for exporters to meet the
NAFTA rules of origin and qualify for zero tariffs on a wide range of goods, making
them more cost competitive.” </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The proposed changes would liberalize the rules of origin applicable to cocoa
preparations, cranberry juice, ores, slag and ash, leather, cork, certain textile products,
feathers, glass and glassware, copper and other metals, televisions, and certain
information technology products and controls. Trilateral trade in these goods is
estimated at about US$20 billion annually.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">These amendments were developed and agreed to by the three NAFTA parties in
keeping with industry needs. While the NAFTA parties have agreed to a target date of
January 1, 2006, for implementation, all three countries must complete their domestic
procedures for implementation of these changes before they can take effect.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We need to continue to respond to changing industry needs and reduce transaction
costs for goods traded among NAFTA partners to enhance our competitiveness in
global markets,” added Minister Peterson. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Minister also noted that this initiative is a good example of how NAFTA parties are
working trilaterally to increase North American competitiveness as part of the Security
and Prosperity Partnership. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">A <i>Canada Gazette </i>notice invites Canadians to submit their views on the proposed
changes by August 31, 2005. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Instructions on how to make submissions on this issue are also available on the
Department of Finance Canada’s public consultations Web site:
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221014057/http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult/NAFTA_e.html"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult/NAFTA_e.html</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221014057/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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