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<title>GOVERNMENT OF CANADA CELEBRATES NAFTA@10</title>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>October 6, 2003 <em>(4:10 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 149</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>GOVERNMENT OF CANADA CELEBRATES NAFTA@10</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">Minister for International Trade, Pierre Pettigrew, today released a report on the impacts of the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and launched a student multimedia contest to demonstrate the benefits of the
Agreement and to encourage informed dialogue on the role of trade liberalization and the future of NAFTA.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This announcement comes on the eve of the annual NAFTA Commission meeting to be held in Montreal on
October 7, and as the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of NAFTA approaches, on January 1, 2004.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The comprehensive statistical report, entitled <em>NAFTA@10: A Preliminary Report,</em> highlights the impact of the
Agreement on Canada's trade and investment performance over the past decade, using statistics available to
date.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"The Report demonstrates that the Agreement has been a success, helping to bring economic growth and
rising standards of living to people in all three countries," said Minister Pettigrew. "In addition, NAFTA has
established a strong foundation for future growth and has demonstrated how trade agreements can benefit
citizens."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">NAFTA has been a win-win proposition for all involved. For example, Canadian manufacturers are now sending
more than half of what they produce to the United States, since they are operating in a larger, more integrated
and efficient North American economy. Thanks to NAFTA, more trade today crosses the Ambassador Bridge
between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, than moves between Germany and France.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The competition will invite Canadian graduate students to share their views on the past and future of NAFTA in
the form of essays, or audio or video contributions. Contestants will be invited to contribute submissions that
reflect upon the impact and role of NAFTA in the economies of all three member countries.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"What better occasion than the 10th anniversary of NAFTA to promote discussion among students about the
rewards brought by the Agreement to date and the future opportunities it offers?" said Minister Pettigrew.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The competition is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and is being
administered by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE).</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"NAFTA is a landmark agreement affecting our way of thinking of ourselves as Canadians," noted Jennifer
Humphries, Director, Membership, Scholarships and Educational Services at the CBIE. "Our Master's students
see themselves as hemispheric citizens, unlike earlier generations of students. Who better to reflect
constructively on NAFTA than those who have lived half of their lives with it?"</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The report will be available at</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070222050241/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eet/research/nafta/nafta-en.asp"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eet/research/nafta/nafta-en.asp</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Information on the contest can be found at <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070222050241/http://www.cbie.ca/">http://www.cbie.ca</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>
<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><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070222050241/mailto:sebastien.theberge@dfait-maeci.gc.ca"><font face="Arial">sebastien.theberge@dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></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/20070222050241/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Jennifer Humphries</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Director, Membership, Scholarships and Educational Services</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canadian Bureau for International Education</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 237-4820</font></p>
<p><a href="www.cbie.ca"><font face="Arial">www.cbie.ca</a></font></p>
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