
Français		Home		Contact Us		Help		Search		canada.gc.ca		Canada International

Home > Media Room

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Canadian Offices Abroad

Services for Canadian Travellers

Services for Business

Canada in the World

About the Department

NEWS RELEASES

2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996

Print friendly version - Printing Tips

<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <title>MARKET ACCESS REPORT OUTLINES CANADA'S TRADE PRIORITIES FOR 2003</title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> April 9, 2003 (11:25 a.m. EDT) No. 37 MARKET ACCESS REPORT OUTLINES CANADA'S TRADE PRIORITIES FOR 2003 International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew today released the government's annual report on Canada's market access priorities for 2003. The report, Opening Doors to the World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities-2003, sets out the initiatives the government will pursue and details the barriers to be overcome in key markets. The report focuses in particular on the primary importance of the trading relationship between Canada and the United States and of further improving market access and the rules-based framework through the WTO and Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations. "Canada is the world's fifth largest trading nation, and our economy grew faster in 2002 than that of any other G7 country. Our companies are among the world's most competitive," said Minister Pettigrew. "By reducing barriers abroad, we will succeed in producing jobs and ensuring prosperity for Canadians. Maintaining the close relationship we have developed over many years with our main trading partner, the United States, is integral to this growth. "Canada's relationship with the United States, our most important friend and ally, remains paramount, and improving access to this market remains our number one trade priority," added Mr. Pettigrew. The report also highlights major trade achievements of the past year that will benefit Canadians and provide new opportunities for Canadian companies in world markets. Some of these accomplishments include: • progress on the 30-point Action Plan of the Smart Border Declaration; • a commitment by Canada and the United States to deeper border cooperation; and • a recommitment by ministers to conclude and implement FTAA negotiations by 2005. The report will be followed on May 8 by Trade Update 2003: Fourth Annual Report, outlining Canada's trade and investment performance for 2002. Today's report is available at the following Web site: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070222045000/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/cimap-e.asp">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/cimap-en.asp</a> - 30 - Highlights of the report are attached. For further information, media representatives may contact: Sébastien Théberge Director of Communications Office of the Minister for International Trade (613) 992-7332 Media Relations Office Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (613) 995-1874 <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070222045000/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a> HIGHLIGHTS Trade Policy Objectives for 2003 • Successfully resolving the softwood lumber dispute with the United States • Ensuring the smooth flow of goods and services to our top market, the United States • Making progress in the WTO and FTAA negotiations • Working toward the conclusion of free trade negotiations with the Central America Four (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) and Singapore 2002 Market Access Achievements • Progress was achieved in the key areas of the WTO negotiations. • Ministers recommitted to conclude FTAA negotiations by January 2005 and implement the agreement by December 2005. • On December 6, 2002, Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge reported on progress made on the 30-point Action Plan of the Smart Border Declaration and announced their commitment to strengthening border cooperation in several areas under Phase II. They agreed to bilateral cooperation in the areas of biosecurity, science and research. • On January 1, 2003, Canada and the United States liberalized the NAFTA rules of origin for seven products making it easier for exporters of these products to meet the rules of origin and benefit from duty-free treatment under NAFTA. (Mexico will implement these changes later in 2003.) • As scheduled under NAFTA, on January 1, 2003, all customs duties were eliminated on trade in originating goods between Canada and Mexico, with the exception of tariffs on beans and corn, which will be eliminated in 2008, and on sugar, dairy, poultry and egg products, which were excluded from the agreement with Canada. • GATT Article XXVIII negotiations between Canada and the EU were successfully concluded, which will maintain Canada's traditional access to EU markets for high-quality wheat and durum. Annual Canadian wheat exports to the EU have averaged over $500 million per year during the past five years. • Chinese authorities approved an additional 18 Canadian meat plants for exporting to China, bringing the total to 41. These new approvals are expected to boost exports of meat to China. </body> </html>

2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996

Print friendly version - Printing Tips



Last Updated: 2006-10-30	Top of Page	Important Notices