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<title>INTERNATIONAL TRADE STRENGTHENS CANADA'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>January 16, 2001 <em>(9:40 a.m.EST)</em> No. 6</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>INTERNATIONAL TRADE STRENGTHENS CANADA'S </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE</strong></font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade released today the
<em>Canadian Trade Review </em>which highlights recent international trade figures from
Statistics Canada. The figures show that Canada's exports of goods and services rose
to a record high of $118.5 billion in the third quarter of 2000.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada's trade success continues to contribute to our country's prosperity," said
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew. <em></em></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada's current account balance recorded a surplus of $3.4 billion in the third quarter
of 2000, the third surplus in a row. The cumulative surplus over the first three quarters
of last year amounted to $11.6 billion. This surplus is already more than twice the
previous 12-month surplus of $4.6 billion recorded in 1999. Canada has benefited
noticeably from higher exports of energy products, reflecting in part high natural gas
and crude petroleum prices.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Real gross domestic product rose at an annualized rate of 4.8 percent in the third
quarter of 2000, more than twice that in the United States. "Canada's trade-driven
economy is the strongest among all G-7 countries," Mr. Pettigrew added.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The current issue of the <em>Canadian Trade Review</em> profiles Canada's quarterly export
performance. It includes an analysis on the reconciliation of merchandise trade
statistics which shows that Canada's exports and bilateral trade balances are often
higher and thus even better than indicated by official statistics. The <em>Canadian Trade
Review </em>is available on-line at: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220202007/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eet/new-e.asp">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eet/new-e.asp</a></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><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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