December 2, 1998 (2:00 p.m. EST) No. 278

MARCHI TO VISIT MIAMI TO ADVANCE

FREE TRADE IN THE AMERICAS

International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi will visit Miami, Florida, on December 9 and 10 to address the 22nd Annual Miami Conference on the Caribbean and Latin America, and to meet with Florida business leaders to promote trade and investment in Canada.

Minister Marchi will speak to the conference on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). He will then meet with Colombian Trade Minister Martha Lucia Ramirez and attend a luncheon with President Armando Calderón Sol of El Salvador, President Carlos Flores of Honduras and Prime Minister P.J. Patterson of Jamaica.

"It is important for our continuing growth that the countries of the Americas press forward with the negotiations toward a Free Trade Area of the Americas," said

Mr. Marchi, noting that Canada is chairing the FTAA talks through 1999. "The reduction of trade barriers throughout the hemisphere will bolster all of our economies and strengthen our hemispheric community."

Following the conference, the Minister will meet with influential Florida business leaders in both Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

"Florida's growing economy offers many export opportunities for Canadians and is an important gateway to Latin America," said Mr. Marchi. "At the same time, I want Floridians to know that Canada is a superb place to do business."

Canada's bilateral trade with Florida already exceeds $5 billion, and an increasing number of Florida entrepreneurs are partnering with Canadian companies.

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A backgrounder on trade between Canada and Florida is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Leslie Swartman

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Backgrounder

TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN CANADA AND FLORIDA

Canada and the state of Florida exchange over C$13 million worth of products every day of the year. In 1997, Canada sold Florida C$2.66 billion worth of goods, sustaining an estimated 30 000 jobs in Canada. In turn, Florida sold C$2.33 billion worth of goods to Canada.

Trade is Growing under Free Trade Agreements

Trade between Florida and Canada continues to grow steadily and significantly. In the years since the Free Trade Agreement took effect, Canadian two-way merchandise trade with Florida has doubled, from about C$2.5 to C$5 billion in 1997, with merchandise exports rising slightly faster than imports. Even in the most recent one-year period from 1996 to 1997, two-way trade jumped 16.5 percent.

Notable Areas of Trade

Canada's leading exports to Florida are forestry products. In 1997, Canada supplied Florida with $612 million in forest products. Softwood lumber at $324 million and newsprint at $197 million alone represented 20 percent of total Canadian merchandise exports.

Canada sold Florida $400 million in equipment and tools. This represents 15 percent of Canada's total exports to Florida.

Transportation equipment comprised an additional 12 percent of Canadian exports to Florida, which were valued at $313 million.

Other notable sectors for Canadian exports to Florida include: agricultural products valued at $277 million; machinery valued at $177 million; personal and household goods valued at $143 million; and telecommunications equipment and computers valued at $141 million.

Tourism

In 1997, 2.1 million Canadians visited Florida for one night or more and spent $2 billion, while 312 000 residents of Florida spent $180 million in Canada.