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<title>PETTIGREW TO PARTICIPATE IN OECD MINISTERIAL MEETING</title>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>April 28, 2003 <em>(10:35 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 42</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW TO PARTICIPATE IN OECD MINISTERIAL MEETING</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew will attend the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on April 29 and 30, 2003. The theme of this year's
Ministerial Meeting is growth and development, and discussions will focus on global economic challenges.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"We will continue to work with our trading partners to ensure that the Doha Development Agenda moves
forward in all areas of the negotiations," said Minister Pettigrew. "We have considerable work ahead of us if we
are to have a productive session at our mid-term Ministerial Meeting in Cancun next September."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Following the OECD Ministerial Meeting, Mr. Pettigrew will attend an informal World Trade Organization (WTO)
meeting of 19 trade ministers, hosted by New Zealand. They will discuss the state of the WTO negotiations and
how to ensure the success of the Cancun Ministerial in September.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On May 2, Minister Pettigrew will travel to Geneva for a number of high-level discussions on WTO negotiations.
He will meet with Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director-General of the WTO, Carlos Pérez del Castillo, Chair of the
General Council, and other WTO ambassadors.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">More information is available at <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221182232/http://www.oecd.org/">http://www.oecd.org</a></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
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<p><font face="Arial">Sébastien Théberge</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221182232/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
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