<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>PETTIGREW TO DISCUSS NEW WORLD TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AT APEC MINISTERIAL</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"></font><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>June 2, 2000 <em>(3:00 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 132</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW TO DISCUSS NEW WORLD TRADE </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>NEGOTIATIONS AT APEC MINISTERIAL</strong></font></p>
<p>International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew will encourage colleagues to move forward on
regional and multilateral trade liberalization during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) Trade Ministerial Meeting in Darwin, Australia. The June 6 and 7 meeting is the largest
gathering of trade ministers since the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference
in Seattle.</p>
<p>"Strengthening the trade facilitation pillar of APEC is a key priority for Canada this year," said
Mr. Pettigrew. "We are also optimistic that APEC trade ministers will express support for a
launch of a new round of WTO negotiations. An endorsement from the diverse and important
membership of APEC would help build support for WTO negotiations worldwide," the Minister
added.</p>
<p>Mr. Pettigrew will also urge delegates to enhance the human dimension of APEC and promote
meaningful public engagement, which includes a Canadian initiative to establish an APEC youth
Web site. Canada and China will also discuss an initiative to hold an APEC youth conference in
China in 2001.</p>
<p>Minister Pettigrew is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with other APEC trade
ministers, including Shi Guangsheng, China's Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation; Takashi Fukaya, Japan's Minister for International Trade and Industry; Han Duck-soo,
Korea's Minister of Trade, and George Yong Boon Yeo, Singapore's Minister for Trade and
Industry. Mr. Pettigrew will also meet with Mike Moore, Director-General of the WTO.</p>
<p>While in Australia, the Minister also took the opportunity to lead a business delegation to
Melbourne and Sydney from May 29 to June 2 to boost trade and investment with Australia. The
trade mission resulted in $293.7 million in trade and investment deals.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Sylvie Bussières</p>
<p>Office of the Minister for International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 992-7332</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
</body>
</html>
