<html>
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10">
<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<style>
p
{
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 1px
}
body
{
font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
font-size: 12pt;
font-weight: normal;
font-style: normal
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">January 31, 2005 <i>(4:10 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 19</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA TO CONSULT CANADIANS ON FREE TRADE TALKS WITH
SOUTH KOREA</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today announced the beginning of public
consultations to obtain Canadians’ views on the feasibility of a free trade agreement
with South Korea. The initial consultation process will last until March 1, 2005. A
<i>Canada Gazette</i> notice seeking public submissions was issued today.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I look forward to hearing from a broad range of Canadians about what they think of
expanding commercial ties with South Korea and opening up a gateway to dynamic
Asia,” said Mr. Peterson. “These consultations play an important part in our policy
development process and will help inform the government as it moves forward in key
markets.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Minister added that this initiative is in keeping with Canada’s efforts to pursue a
more aggressive bilateral and regional trade strategy and to take advantage of key
emerging opportunities in the markets of Northeast Asia.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Specifically, the Government of Canada is seeking the views of individual Canadians,
provinces and territories, key industry sectors and non-governmental organizations on
the feasibility of negotiating a free trade agreement with South Korea, including any
economic or social impact an agreement might have. Government-to-government
exploratory talks will continue in parallel with public consultations with a view to
presenting leaders with a recommendation by mid-2005 on whether to proceed with full
negotiations. An initial officials-level meeting was held in Seoul, South Korea, on
January 25 and 26.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In 2003, Canada exported goods worth $1.94 billion to South Korea and imported
goods worth about $5.11 billion. Current and potential export growth exists in many
sectors including wood pulp, mineral fuels, metals, electrical machinery, shellfish and a
wide variety of agricultural products.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Prime Minister Paul Martin and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun announced the
start of exploratory talks on the feasibility of a free trade agreement on the margins of
the November 2004 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Santiago, Chile.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">To view this notice or for further information on the consultations, please visit the
following Web sites:
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071121020542/http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2005/20050131-x1/html/extra1-e.html"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2005/20050131-x1/html/extra1-e.html</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">,
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071121020542/http://www.international.gc.ca/tna-nac/reg-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca/tna-nac/reg-en.asp</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"> and
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071121020542/http://www.international.gc.ca/tna-nac/IYT/consult-regbil-en.asp#korea"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca/tna-nac/IYT/consult-regbil-en.asp#korea</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071121020542/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
</body>
</html>
