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<title>PETTIGREW ANNOUNCES CANADA'S POSITIONON FTAA NEGOTIATIONS</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">March 15, 2000 <em>(3:05 p.m. EST)</em> No. 47</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong></strong></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW ANNOUNCES CANADA'S POSITION</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>ON FTAA NEGOTIATIONS</strong></font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre S. Pettigrew today presented to Parliament
Canada's priorities and objectives for negotiating a Free Trade Area of the Americas
(FTAA). </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Government's position directly responds to 29 recommendations made by an
all-party parliamentary committee, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (SCFAIT). The SCFAIT report recommends the course Canada
should take during ongoing FTAA negotiations among the 34 democratic nations of
the Americas, slated to conclude by 2005.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada's economic future is directly linked to that of our hemispheric neighbours,"
said Minister Pettigrew. "When negotiations are concluded, the FTAA will be the
world's largest free trade region, with a current population of 800 million people and
a combined GDP of nearly $11 trillion." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada is dependent on an open rules-based trading system to continue our
impressive economic growth and job creation," said the Minister. "We are also
committed to preserving our right to regulate in pursuit of national objectives,
including those in the health and education sectors.</font><font face="Arial">"</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Last year, the Standing Committee held cross-country hearings on the FTAA and
listened to hundreds of Canadians from a variety of business, labour, environmental,
academic and human rights groups. The Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade has also directly consulted industry sector representatives and
citizen groups since 1998 and will continue to do so as negotiations progress.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Pettigrew recently concluded a trade development mission to Uruguay,
Argentina and Chile, where he urged progress on FTAA negotiations in meetings
with the three nations' newly elected leaders and ministers.</font><font face="Arial"> Argentina currently
chairs the FTAA negotiations.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The FTAA is an integral part of the Summit of the Americas process, which
reinforces Canada's long-term commitment to the hemisphere</font><font face="Arial">. In April 2001 in
Quebec City, Canada will host the third Summit of the Americas, which will bring
together the region's 34 democratically elected leaders.</font><font face="Arial"> </font><font face="Arial">This June, the city of
Windsor, Ontario, will host the General Assembly of the Organization of American
States (OAS), marking Canada's 10th anniversary as a member of the OAS.</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Sylvie Bussières</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
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