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<title>CANADA SEEKS WTO PANEL ON AUSTRALIAN BAN ON IMPORTS OF UNCOOKED SALMON</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">March 5, 1997 No. 42</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA SEEKS WTO PANEL ON AUSTRALIAN BAN ON IMPORTS OF
UNCOOKED SALMON</font><font face="Courier"></font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">International Trade Minister Art Eggleton and Fisheries and Oceans Minister Fred
Mifflin announced today that Canada will ask the World Trade Organization (WTO)
for a dispute settlement panel on Australia's ban on imports of uncooked salmon.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada's request for a dispute settlement panel will be made formally to the WTO's
Dispute Settlement Body on March 20. The Australian government announced on
December 20, 1996, that it would maintain its current ban on uncooked salmon
products.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada's position is that the ban cannot be supported on scientific grounds and
is inconsistent with Australia's obligations under the WTO," said Mr. Eggleton.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canadian salmon producers in British Columbia have been unfairly denied access to
Australia's market for over 20 years," said Mr. Mifflin. "Therefore, I strongly
support Minister Eggleton's decision to request a WTO panel."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In 1975, Australia introduced a new quarantine measure that prohibited the import
of uncooked salmon products, effectively requiring that imported salmon be either
heat treated or canned. Canadian exports of fresh, frozen or chilled salmon were
banned from the market.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada held a number of technical discussions with the Australians in an effort to
resolve the issue. These efforts were not successful.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In October 1995, Canada requested WTO consultations with Australia in a further
attempt to settle the problem. These consultations were held in November 1995
without reaching a resolution.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> - 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Nicole Bourget</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Bonnie Mewdell</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 992-3474</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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