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Bilateral Relations
Canada - Singapore
On October 21, 2001, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced the launch of negotiations
for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Canada and Singapore that will be complemented
by environmental and labour cooperation agreements.
Update on Environmental Cooperation
Agreement Negotiations
- Canada hosted the fifth round of negotiations in Ottawa,
from September 29-30, 2003. The negotiations continued to be constructive
and positive. At the conclusion of the session, there remained only
a few final issues to be settled. Since the session, both delegations
have continued to work on narrowing differences in order to achieve
a final agreement.
- The fourth round of the Canada-Singapore environmental cooperation
negotiations took place by video conferencing, on July 22 and 23/24,2003
in Ottawa and Singapore. The delegations discussed the draft text
of the agreement clause-by-clause, and made good progress, with agreement
on many of the articles.
- Canada hosted the third round of the negotiations in London, United
Kingdom, from January 21-23, 2003. The negotiations were characterized
by a constructive and positive tone, and the delegations made significant
progress both in the development of a text for the agreement, and in
the identification of potential areas for mutually beneficial environmental
cooperation. The next round of negotiations is planned for April. In
the meantime, the delegations have agreed to exchange ideas and information
in an effort to clarify positions and narrow differences.
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- Singapore hosted the second round of negotiations for the Environmental
Cooperation Agreement in Singapore from April 29 to May 2, 2002, with
information exchange sessions. The Canadian delegation received an extensive
briefing on the environmental management system in Singapore, including
the Environment Ministry's legislation and processes, the Singapore
Green Plan 2012, water management and conservation, nature conservation,
land use planning, marine environment protection, technical cooperation
programs, and implementation of various multilateral environmental agreements,
particularly the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
- Canada hosted the first round of negotiations for the Environmental
Cooperation Agreement in Ottawa, March 4 to 6, 2002, with information
exchange sessions. Presentations were made to the Singaporean delegation
on the Canadian environmental management system, including the political,
legal and administrative structure, the Canadian Environmental Protection
Act, environmental impact assessment, federal-provincial cooperation,
the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, environmental
conservation, and the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainable Development.
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- The first negotiating session for the free trade agreement was held in Singapore from
January 21 to 25, 2002. During the same week, Canadian environment negotiators held a series
of useful meetings with key Singaporean officials and non-governmental
organizations. Together with the chief negotiators from both sides,
they met with senior officials of the Singapore Ministry of the Environment
to discuss the launch of negotiations for an environmental side agreement.
Both sides agreed to identify negotiating leads to begin information
exchange, which would set the stage for the negotiation process.
- On October 21, 2001, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced
the launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between
Canada and Singapore that will be complemented by environmental and
labour cooperation agreements. The announcement was made following a
meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shanghai, China.
Negotiations are scheduled to begin in late January, 2002.
[News Release ]
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- On June 17, 2000, the Government of Canada published a request for
submissions from parties who are interested in providing advice and
views on any priorities, objectives and concerns of a possible free
trade agreement with Singapore, including views on ways to reflect the
interests and values of Canadians in the areas of the protection of
the environment, basic workers' rights, human rights and other social
concerns as they relate to Singapore.
[Canada
Gazette]
- On June 5, 2000, International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced
that officials from Canada and Singapore will begin exploring the possibility
of negotiating a bilateral free trade agreement. Minister Pettigrew
made the announcement after a meeting with Singaporean Trade and Industry
Minister George Yeo in Darwin, Australia, on the margins of the Meeting
of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade.
[News Release]
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