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<title>INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLL RESULTS</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>May 13, 2003 <em>(2:50 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 60</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLL RESULTS</strong></font></p>
<p>A key survey released today entitled <em>Canadian Attitudes Toward International Trade</em> indicates that the majority of
Canadians continue to view trade as a stronghold of Canada's economy, want increased services and advice for exporters,
and are open to pursuing more trade agreements with other countries.</p>
<p>Despite a drop in overall economic optimism since the 2002 survey, the majority of Canadians--80 percent--continue to
believe that Canada's economy benefits from international trade.</p>
<p>"This survey clearly shows that Canadians recognize the importance of international trade to our prosperity, and support
more initiatives to bolster trade and investment," said International Trade Minister Pettigrew. "In that vein, we are working
continuously to develop initiatives to assist Canadians who seek to export abroad, and we are pursuing several free trade
agreements to help expand markets for Canada's goods and services."</p>
<p>Canadians have indicated that the government's top priorities relating to international trade should be to provide business,
particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with services and advice to help them export (84 percent), and to
continue to negotiate trade agreements that work for Canada (71 percent). Support for free trade agreements reflects a
notable jump, up from 61 percent in 1999.</p>
<p>"I think that support for trade agreements has increased because Canadians have had a chance to reap the benefits of
prosperity and job creation, while witnessing that the negative fallout predicted by critics of free trade has not happened. As
well, Canada has led the way in promoting transparency in trade agreements; we have shown that trade promotes our social
system by generating the wealth we need to strengthen our health system and public services," added Minister Pettigrew.</p>
<p>The survey, commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, was conducted by an independent
firm, Ekos Research Associates Inc.</p>
<p>The results of the survey can be found at the following address: </p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071205231837/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/Consult6-en.asp">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/Consult6-en.asp</a></p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Sébastien Théberge</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister for International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 992-7332</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071205231837/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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