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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 18, 2005 <i>(3:05 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 224</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 WELCOMES VOTE BY U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AS KEY STEP TOWARD REPEAL OF BYRD AMENDMENT</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today issued the following statement on
behalf of the Government of Canada following an important development towards the
repeal of the Byrd Amendment. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its
version of the budget reconciliation bill, which contains a provision to repeal the Byrd
Amendment.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada and a host of other countries have called on the U.S. to repeal Byrd for some
time now and we are heartened by this news. We hope that the Senate agrees to the
House proposal. Protectionism cannot prevail. Protectionism protects no one.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Byrd Amendment is a U.S. federal law which allows U.S. producers to receive
anti-dumping and countervailing duties from foreign competitors. Today's action by the
House of Representatives is only one step in the U.S. legal process. In January 2003,
the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the Byrd Amendment is inconsistent
with U.S. WTO obligations. Canada is urging the United States to repeal this illegal
measure and bring itself into compliance with its international trade obligations. Further
information on the Byrd Amendment and Canada’s retaliation can be found on the
International Trade Canada website at </span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220232604/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/disp/byrd-main-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.byrdamendmentdispute.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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<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>
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<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/20070220232604/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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