<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>PETTIGREW TO PARTICIPATE INFIFTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN CANCÚN</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>September 4, 2003 <em>(11:00 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 126</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW TO PARTICIPATE IN</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>FIFTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN CANCÚN</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew will lead a Canadian delegation to the Fifth World Trade
Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, in Cancún, Mexico, taking place from September 10 to 14, 2003.
He will be accompanied by Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief and International Cooperation
Minister Susan Whelan. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Trade ministers from 146 countries will gather to assess progress and provide momentum and direction for the
current round of negotiations, known as the Doha Development Agenda, which was launched in November
2001, following the ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"It is essential in Cancún that we re-affirm our commitment to the goals and objectives that we set in Doha,"
said Minister Pettigrew. "This is a mid-term review. There is still a long way to go and much work ahead to
ensure a successful round. Improved global trade rules will open up new markets for Canadians and create
new opportunities at home, as well as benefit developing countries."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada's particular interests in the Doha Development Agenda of trade negotiations are:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• fundamental reform of world agricultural trade;</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• better, more assured access to markets for non-agricultural goods and services worldwide; and</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• strengthening and clarifying trade rules, particularly in the areas of anti-dumping, countervailing duties and
subsidies. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"We are going to Cancún to continue the fight for a level playing field for Canada's agriculture sector," said
Minister Vanclief. "We will work to ensure that ministers provide the direction and scope for negotiators to
continue to work after Cancún toward an ambitious outcome that is fair and equitable for all countries." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Considering the needs of developing countries and advancing the cause of sustainable development through
these negotiations are also central to Canada's objectives in the Doha Development Agenda.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Trade matters to sustainable development. With over a billion people living in abject poverty, we cannot afford
to overlook the opportunities that trade can offer for economic growth and poverty reduction," said Minister
Whelan. "But economic growth must also take into account social development and the environment. Canada is
committed to helping developing countries benefit from the multilateral trading system."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Federal, provincial and municipal elected representatives and officials will be participating in the Fifth WTO
Ministerial Conference. In addition, some 80 Canadian organizations (including NGOs, business associations,
academics, etc.) registered with the WTO are expected to be in Cancún. Among participating countries,
Canada will have the second-largest contingent of organizations on site.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada's objectives on specific policy areas at the WTO are developed through ongoing consultation and
regular communication with interested Canadians. A detailed backgrounder can be found at:</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/WTO/backgrounder-en.asp"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/WTO/backgrounder-en.asp</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In Cancún, Canadian government officials will meet every evening with Canadians to provide updates and
share information on the proceedings. For the first time, these daily sessions will be Webcast for the benefit of
those who cannot attend in person. The Webcasts will be available at:</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/WTO/webcast-en.asp"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/WTO/webcast-en.asp</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">General information on the Canadian presence in Cancún can also be found at the Trade Negotiations and
Agreements Web site of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/http://www.wto.gc.ca/">http://www.wto.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">More information on the current agriculture negotiations is also available at: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/http://www.agr.gc.ca/itpd-dpci/english/current/wto.htm">http://www.agr.gc.ca/itpd-dpci/english/current/wto.htm</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/20071123030735/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><font face="Arial">Donald Boulanger</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Press Secretary</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 759-1761</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 759-7972</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/http://www.agr.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.agr.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Marta Anderson</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Cooperation</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(819) 953-6238</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canadian International Development Agency</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(819) 953-6534</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/mailto:info@acdi-cida.gc.ca"><font face="Arial">info@acdi-cida.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/http://www.cida.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.cida.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123030735/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
</body>
</html>
