Minister Champagne concludes successful trade mission to Asia

News Release

May 26, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Growing Canada’s trade and investment relationship with partners in Asia is a top priority for the Government of Canada and will help create more long-term growth, good jobs and an economy that benefits the middle class. The fast-growing markets in Asia represent significant potential as trading partners and for bilateral investment to stimulate further economic growth for Canadians.  

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, today concluded a week-long trip to East and Southeast Asia to boost trade and investment relationships, make the case for Canada’s progressive trade agenda, and identify more opportunities and export markets for Canada’s world-class forest products. He travelled to Hanoi, Vietnam; Singapore; Seoul, South Korea; and Tokyo, Japan, where he engaged with senior government officials, his international counterparts, media, and local entrepreneurs—notably key wood and wood-product importers and architects, woman entrepreneurs, youth, and innovation and innovative companies.  

Highlights of the visit included participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, productive meetings with companies using Canadian wood products and companies interested in potentially growing imports, discussing ways to advance women’s economic empowerment with woman executives and entrepreneurs, and participating in a videoconference between students at Waseda University in Tokyo and Carleton University in Ottawa.

Quotes

“During my official visits to Asia, I have seen first-hand the rapid growth taking place across the region. Asia represents massive opportunities for Canadian businesses that will translate into more innovation, and commercial connections that will help create more jobs and growth at home for Canada’s middle class.”

- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade

Quick Facts

  • The APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting is held in preparation for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November 2017.

  • In July 2017, Canada will host an APEC Business Advisory Council meeting in Toronto, which will bring together business and political leaders from the Asia-Pacific region who are focused on increasing trade and economic cooperation.

  • Collectively, the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) rank as Canada’s sixth-largest merchandise trading partner. In 2016, bilateral merchandise trade was $21.6 billion.

  • Japan is Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Asia. Canada’s merchandise exports to Japan in 2016 were worth $10.7 billion, up 9.7 percent since 2015, with the top exports being agri-food products; forest products; and metallurgical, coal and copper ores.

  • In Hanoi, Minister Champagne participated in the APEC trade ministers meeting, met with the President of Vietnam and his Vietnamese counterpart, and engaged with business leaders to promote Canadian wood products.

  • In Singapore, Minister Champagne met with Ministers and representatives of the Singaporean government, delivered a speech to the local Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, promoted Canadian wood products to construction industry representatives, and spoke at CommunicAsia 2017 to showcase Canadian technology companies.

  • In Seoul, the Minister met with Korean government ministers and members of the Korean business community, witnessed a commercial signing between a Canadian and a Korean technology company, and hosted round table discussions with students from Sookmyung Women’s University, and a second with key forestry product importers and architects to promote Canadian wood in the Korean market.

  • In Tokyo, Minister Champagne met with Japanese ministers, potential investors, and top importers and buyers of Canadian wood products. He also spoke at the AGSUM Agritech Summit, met with women executives and entrepreneurs and participated in a video teleconference between students at Waseda University in Tokyo and Carleton University in Ottawa.

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