CANADA TO BEGIN CONSULTATIONS ON FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH FOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS
January 9, 2001 (1:30 p.m. EST) No. 4
CANADA TO BEGIN CONSULTATIONS ON FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT
WITH FOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS
The Government of Canada will begin public consultations to obtain Canadians' views
on a free trade agreement with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua,
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced today.
"Consulting Canadians is an ongoing and important part of developing Canada's trade
policy," said Minister Pettigrew. "Negotiations will take into account vital Canadian
interests such as labour and environmental standards."
The Government will seek input from the Canadian public, businesses, and citizen-based organizations, as well as the provinces and territories during the initial
consultation process. Canadian and Central American officials are scheduled to meet
at the end of February.
Canadians have also been consulted on ongoing World Trade Organization services
negotiations (GATS), Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) talks, and on bilateral
initiatives such as free trade negotiations with Costa Rica and exploratory free trade
talks with Singapore.
In 1999, Canada exported goods worth $212 million to El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua and imported goods worth about $251 million. There is
significant potential for Canadian companies in several priority export sectors,
including telecommunications equipment, environmental equipment and services,
foodstuffs, automotive parts, and construction materials.
Free trade negotiations with Central America signal Canada's continued engagement
in the region, and will provide momentum to the negotiation of the FTAA.
Prime Minister Chrétien and the presidents of the four countries agreed to pursue a
free trade agreement last September at the Canada-Central America Summit.
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For more information on consultations on the Canada-Central America Four free trade
negotiations, please visit: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/ca4-e.asp
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sylvie Bussières
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874