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<title>CANADA TO BEGIN CONSULTATIONS ON FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH FOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS </title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>January 9, 2001 <em>(1:30 p.m. EST)</em> No. 4</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>CANADA TO BEGIN CONSULTATIONS ON FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>WITH FOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS</strong></font><font face="Arial"><strong> </strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Government of Canada will begin public consultations to obtain Canadians' views
on a free trade agreement with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua,
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced today.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Consulting Canadians is an ongoing and important part of developing Canada's trade
policy," said Minister Pettigrew. "Negotiations will take into account vital Canadian
interests such as labour and environmental standards."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Government will seek input from the Canadian public, businesses, and citizen-based organizations, as well as the provinces and territories during the initial
consultation process. Canadian and Central American officials are scheduled to meet
at the end of February.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canadians have also been consulted on ongoing World Trade Organization services
negotiations (GATS), Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) talks, and on bilateral
initiatives such as free trade negotiations with Costa Rica and exploratory free trade
talks with Singapore.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In 1999, Canada exported goods worth $212 million to El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua and imported goods worth about $251 million. There is
significant potential for Canadian companies in several priority export sectors,
including telecommunications equipment, environmental equipment and services,
foodstuffs, automotive parts, and construction materials.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Free trade negotiations with Central America signal Canada's continued engagement
in the region, and will provide momentum to the negotiation of the FTAA.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Prime Minister Chrétien and the presidents of the four countries agreed to pursue a
free trade agreement last September at the Canada-Central America Summit. </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For more information on consultations on the Canada-Central America Four free trade
negotiations, please visit: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220203326/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/ca4-e.asp">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/ca4-e.asp</a></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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