<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>PETTIGREW WELCOMES WTO WAIVER FOR KIMBERLEY PROCESS CERTIFICATION SCHEME</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font size="+1"><strong>May 22, 2003 <em>(9:55 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 64</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW WELCOMES WTO WAIVER </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>FOR KIMBERLEY PROCESS CERTIFICATION SCHEME</strong></font></p>
<p>International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew welcomed the World Trade Organization's (WTO) adoption, on May 19, of a
waiver that allows Canada and other Kimberley Process Certification Scheme participants to effectively block the trade in
conflict diamonds, in a manner consistent with their international trade obligations.</p>
<p>Canada co-sponsored a collective waiver request under Article IX:3 of the WTO Agreement because certain domestic
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme obligations could have been judged inconsistent with the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (1994). Other sponsors were Australia, Brazil, the European Union, Israel, Japan, the Philippines, Sierra
Leone, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.</p>
<p>"Canada played a leadership role in the evolution of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme," said Minister Pettigrew.
"This decision clearly shows that the WTO can be flexible when it comes to human security and development."</p>
<p>The Kimberley Process was initiated by South Africa in May 2000 to develop an international certification scheme for
rough diamonds. The Process aims to prevent conflict diamonds--that is, diamonds that originate in areas controlled by
rebel groups and that are used to fund military actions targeting governments--from entering legitimate markets. Chaired
by the Government of South Africa, the Process brings together government participants--including Canada, the United
States and the European Community--representing more than 98 percent of the world's diamond market. The Process also
includes representatives from the diamond industry and non-governmental organizations. On December 12, 2002, Canada
enacted the Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act to enable Canada to meet its obligations under the Kimberley
Process Certification Scheme, which has been in operation since January 2003.</p>
<p>Among other things, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme obliges participating countries to export rough diamonds
in tamper-resistant containers; provide a certificate validated by the government of the export country confirming that the
diamonds are conflict free; collect and maintain relevant production, import and export data; and trade only with other
Scheme participants.</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/20071123031513/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
</body>
</html>
