International Trade Minister promotes Canadian trade and investment at APEC
News Release
International Trade Minister promotes Canadian trade and investment at APEC
November 20, 2016 - Lima, Peru - Global Affairs Canada
Trade means more growth, and more growth means more jobs for middle-class Canadians. The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade, today concluded her visit to Cuba, Argentina and Peru, where she advanced Canada’s trade and investment objectives with Asia-Pacific partners.
In Peru, the Minister participated in the 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings and promoted progressive trade with counterparts from many of APEC’s 21 member states. The Minister also took part in bilateral meetings with the United States, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Peru, among others.
The Minister underscored Canada’s interests in a meeting concerning the Pacific Alliance, at the APEC Business Advisory Council and during a round table with Canadian companies operating in Peru.
At APEC, the Minister also announced funding for a $19.5-million development-assistance project, the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development. This progressive initiative will specifically help developing countries to better negotiate, implement, adapt to, and benefit from trade and investment agreements with Canada.
To promote trade and investment opportunities in Canada, the Minister participated in several high-level meetings while in Cuba and Argentina. Alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, she met with Cuban President Raúl Castro. She also met with her counterpart, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, and David Pathe, CEO of Sherritt International, Canada’s largest foreign direct investor in Cuba. In Argentina, alongside the Prime Minister, she met with President Mauricio Macri and with the Canadian Council for the Americas.
Quotes
“APEC brings together many of Canada’s most important trade and investment partners. This year we directly addressed growing global protectionism and the need to promote trade as the surest path to jobs and growth for the middle class. Canada is a pro-trade country, and we will continue to advocate for the real benefits of trading internationally. I welcome my colleagues’ forceful and passionate defence of free trade at APEC.”
- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Trade
Quick facts
- APEC’s 21 members are home to 2.8 billion people, who accounted for more than 59 percent of the world’s GDP and more than 84 percent of Canada’s total merchandise trade in 2015.
- APEC includes four of Canada’s top five trading partners—the United States, China, Mexico and Japan.
- APEC was established in 1989 and has become the most important economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. Its primary purpose is to facilitate economic growth and prosperity in the region, with the vision of creating a seamless regional economy.
- Canada was a founding member of APEC in 1989.
Associated links
- News release: Prime Minister Trudeau to travel to Cuba, Argentina, and Peru
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
- APEC Ministers Joint Statement
Contacts
Alex Lawrence
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade
alex.lawrence@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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