Free Trade Area of the Americas Consultations

The Government of Canada has consulted extensively with Canadians on the Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiations since their launch of negotiations in 1998, including responding to the 1999 Parliamentary report on Canada's FTAA negotiating positions. From these initial consultations, the Government has been able to make public Canada's negotiating positions and objectives, including on trade policy issues related to agriculture.

Moreover, Canada has taken a leadership role within the FTAA negotiations in promoting civil society dialogue. Canada was instrumental in establishing the Civil Society Committee of Government Representatives as well as the ongoing consultation process by which input from civil society representatives is solicited from interested stakeholders.

Canada also spearheaded the process leading to the public release of the initial draft FTAA negotiating text in 2001. FTAA Ministers have continued to endorse this approach to increasing the transparency of the trade negotiating process, with the most recent version of the text made public November 20, 2003 in Miami.

The Government of Canada will continue to consult the full range of Canadians and the provinces over the course of the agriculture negotiations through a variety of ways, including meetings with industry associations, and provincial and industry advisory groups. The Government will also continue to inform Canadians on developments in the negotiations through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s trade policy website.

Relevant sites:

• FTAA Report on Multistakeholder Consultation
• 1999 Parliamentary Report on the FTAA Negotiations
• Government Response to 1999 Parliamentary Report on the FTAA Negotiations
• Canada's FTAA Negotiating Position and Proposals on Agriculture
• FTAA Official Website- Civil Society
• Third Draft FTAA Agreement - November 21, 2003
• Canada's Position on Agriculture
• Description of the Draft Chapter on Agriculture
• Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, please contact:

Denis Landreville
Tel: 759-7669
Fax: 759-6011
E-mail: landrevilled@agr.gc.ca