OPENING DOORS TO THE WORLD
Canada's International Market Access Priorities – 2004
This publication and additional export information are available on-line
at www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca or www.exportsource.ca.
Unless otherwise specified, monetary figures in this document are in Canadian dollars. Merchandise trade figures appearing throughout this document are preliminary "customs basis" figures released by Statistics Canada, February 16, 2004. Services trade figures are "Balance of Payments" figures released by Statistics Canada, February 26, 2004. All investment statistics are from Statistics Canada.
About This Document
Opening Doors to the World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities – 2004 outlines the government's priorities for improving access to foreign markets for Canadian traders and investors through a range of multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives in 2004. It also presents significant market-opening results from 2003 that will benefit Canadian business. Subjects range from Canada's broad negotiating objectives at the World Trade Organization to the details of specific bilateral trade irritants. The report is not intended as an exhaustive catalogue of government activities to improve access to foreign markets; neither is it a comprehensive inventory of foreign barriers to trade or investment.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade coordinated the preparation of this report with the assistance of its embassies and missions abroad, other federal government departments (especially Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Finance Canada, Industry Canada and Natural Resources Canada), provincial governments and, of course, Canadians doing business abroad. Its contents are current up to March 2004.
Opening Doors to the World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities – 2004 updates and expands on topics presented in the 2003 report, which was released in April 2003.
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada,
as represented by the Minister of International Trade, 2004
Catalogue number: E74-88/2004
ISBN: 0-662-67959-8
Table of Contents
Message from the Minister of International Trade
- Introduction
- Getting the International Rules Right: The World Trade Organization
- Investment
- Opening Doors to the Americas
- Opening Doors to Europe
- Opening Doors to Asia Pacific
- Opening Doors in Other Key Markets
- Glossary of Terms
- List of Acronyms
Message from the Minister of International Trade
I am pleased to present the 2004 edition of Opening Doors to the World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities. This document outlines Canada's market access objectives for 2004 and highlights the successes achieved during the previous year.
Canada's economic prosperity is highly correlated with its success as a trading nation: an estimated one out of every four jobs in Canada is linked to our export success in global markets. As part of the government's agenda to build a strong 21st century economy and to secure Canada's place in the world, a separate Department of International Trade has been created to ensure that trade and investment activities support these priorities. This will enable us to more effectively contribute to enhancing Canada's economic prosperity, including the building of a knowledge-based economy, and will permit better synergies among our trade, investment and innovation objectives. To further this broad vision, the Government of Canada remains committed to reducing and eliminating barriers to trade in key foreign markets.
In 2004, the government will continue to focus on Canada's trade relationship with its number-one market, the United States. Through the Smart Border Action Plan, we are developing a facilitative border that has helped to ensure the secure but business-friendly frontier required to accommodate the world's most comprehensive trade relationship. In addition, the government is implementing its plan to open seven new consulates in the United States, upgrade two consulates to consulates general and appoint 20 honorary consuls as part of the Enhanced Representation Initiative. This initiative is designed to improve our ability to operate with increased effectiveness in the U.S. market. Canada will continue, as a top priority, to dedicate its efforts to managing the trade relationship with the United States, with a view to ensuring cooperation on trade policy issues of mutual interest and the resolution of bilateral trade issues. In particular, Canada will continue to pursue a long-term solution on softwood lumber, and it will work to secure a science-based reopening of the border to trade in live animals—the border was closed due to a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (or BSE) in Canada.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provides us with a framework for managing and enhancing our trade relationship with the United States and Mexico. There is no doubt that NAFTA, which marked its 10th anniversary on January 1, 2004, has served Canada exceedingly well. It has created new opportunities for Canadian exporters and has made all three parties more competitive. According to the 2004 KPMG report Competitive Alternatives, Canada now ranks as the lowest-cost country for doing business among all of the G7 countries. In addition, NAFTA has contributed to a decade of significant economic growth for Canadians. Canada is committed to further expanding its trade and investment opportunities with the United States and Mexico through the NAFTA work plan.
Canada remains committed to seeking an ambitious outcome in the current World Trade Organization negotiations, as outlined by the Doha Development Agenda. Canada's key objectives are reforming world agricultural trade, increasing access to foreign markets for Canadian goods and services, and strengthening the rules governing trade. The World Trade Organization will continue to be the cornerstone of Canada's trade policy, as well as the foundation for Canada's bilateral and regional agreements and initiatives.
Canada will continue to play an active leadership role in the formation of what will be the world's largest free trade area. The Free Trade Area of the Americas will improve access for Canadian exports to a hemispheric market of more than 800 million people and will build upon Canada's free trade agreements with the United States, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica.
The year 2004 will also be a busy one on other trade policy fronts. With the setback in multilateral negotiations, many of our trading partners are increasing the pace of bilateral negotiations. Canadian negotiators are currently in the midst of negotiations with several countries on agreements to open markets for Canadian business and to complement broader, multilateral efforts. The government will continue its efforts to open key markets. Canada and the European Union, for example, recently agreed on a framework for a new trade and investment enhancement agreement to further stimulate our important commercial relationship. Negotiations are expected to begin this year.
The Government of Canada is dedicated to strengthening access to emerging markets and to realigning business development efforts to take advantage of the opportunities presented by these markets. Accordingly, Gar Knutson, Minister of State (New and Emerging Markets), has been mandated to support Canada's economic goals through enhanced engagement with expanding markets.
Many of the developing country markets, which currently offer significant potential for Canadian exporters, services providers and investors, will emerge as key trade and investment partners of the future. Trade-related technical assistance, capacity building, and greater institutional and policy coherence among international organizations will facilitate the full participation of developing countries in the global economy. Canada will continue to support growth and contribute to the strengthening of peace, stability and good governance in these countries.
The Government of Canada is committed to continuing to consult regularly with all stakeholders: the provinces and territories, non-governmental organizations, the business sector, municipalities and the Canadian public. This dialogue is an invaluable tool used by the government as a basis for its actions and intentions on a wide range of issues.
I would encourage interested parties to consult the trade negotiations and agreements Web site for the most up-to-date information on Canada's trade policy agenda. I invite you to register your views using the Department of International Trade Web site (http://www.itcan-cican.gc.ca/menu-en.asp) or the aforementioned trade negotiations and agreements Web site (www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/menu-en.asp). Your views will contribute to informing and guiding the government so that together we can develop international trade and investment policies that help build Canada's 21st century economy on strong social foundations and ensure our continued prosperity.
The Honourable James Scott Peterson, P.C., M.P.
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