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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 25, 2005 <i>(2:30 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 194</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">GOVERNMENT OF CANADA UPDATE ON WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION DISCUSSIONS</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy
Mitchell provided the following statement regarding the recent World Trade
Organization (WTO) discussions held in Geneva, Switzerland:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canadian agriculture and agri-food producers are relying on the current WTO Doha
round of multilateral agricultural trade negotiations to level the international playing field.
Canada is actively engaged in the WTO negotiations, seeking the substantial reduction
of trade-distorting domestic support, the elimination of export subsidies and significant
improvements in market access, while defending the ability of Canadian producers to
choose how to market their products.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“With regard to domestic support, on October 10, 2005, the United States came forward
with a proposal that was able to move the negotiations forward. While much more
remains to be done in this area, particularly with respect to deeper cuts in overall levels
of support and the need for strengthened criteria for price-related blue box payments,
the U.S. proposal succeeded in showing that it was prepared to seriously engage in
meaningful negotiations that would lead toward substantial reductions in trade-distorting
domestic support and a major reform of its agricultural support systems.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“On the issue of export subsidies, we support the elimination of export subsidies by
2010 as outlined in the U.S. proposal. Eliminating these subsidies as quickly as
possible has been Canada’s longstanding position. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“On agricultural market access, it is clearly up to the European Communities (EC) to
make the next move. A signal from the EC on market access is needed. We need the
EC to adopt an ambitious tariff reduction formula. At the same time, it will be important
to develop appropriate treatment for sensitive products, including flexibility in how
market access improvements are achieved.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The agriculture negotiations are at a critical stage, with only seven weeks remaining
until the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Conference, at which time WTO members are to
confirm modalities for the agriculture negotiations and other decisions in the
negotiations, and take the steps necessary so that the negotiations can conclude by the
end of 2006. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“As a trading nation, our overriding goal is to increase access to foreign markets for
Canadian goods and services. We are advocating for changes to the rules governing
anti-dumping and countervail, and for new trade facilitation measures. Preference
erosion, revenue loss and trade-related technical assistance must be addressed if this
development round is to succeed.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The Government of Canada will continue to consult with a wide group of stakeholders,
parliamentarians and provincial governments to best represent the needs of Canadian
industries.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The negotiations remain a priority for Canada and we have participated in a number of
recent ministerial-level meetings in Zurich and Geneva. We will continue to participate
in these meetings as often as necessary to ensure a deal is reached that contributes to
Canada’s prosperity.” </span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184602/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>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Matt Tolley<br>
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food<br>
(613) 759-1059</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>
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada<br>
1-866-345-7972</span></span></span></p>
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