International Trade and Foreign Affairs Ministers to travel to Vietnam to attend APEC Leaders’ Week 

News Release

November 5, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Pursuing free, fair and progressive trade, and strengthening relationships with the economically vibrant Asia-Pacific region is a priority for Canada and important for creating more middle-class jobs for Canadians.

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, today announced that they will attend the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week from November 8 to 11, 2017, in Da Nang, Vietnam.

While at APEC, the Ministers will work to advance free trade priorities of mutual interest in the Asia-Pacific region and opportunities for Canadians in fast-growing markets.

At the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting on November 8, the Ministers will engage their counterparts on how progressive trade can help build a stronger middle class, and ensure that the benefits of an open global trading environment are fairly distributed and enrich everyone, particularly the middle class and those working hard to join it.

Minister Champagne will participate in discussions with business leaders to highlight trade and investment opportunities for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises. Canadian entrepreneurs, farmers and producers have unparalleled opportunities to capitalize on our diversity and ensure the future prosperity of their families.

On the margins of APEC, Minister Freeland will meet with counterparts from other APEC member economies to advance Canada’s foreign policy priorities in the Asia-Pacific, including the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in Rakhine, Myanmar, the situation with North Korea, and reaffirmation of Canada’s strong commitment to international cooperation and a rules-based international order.

Both ministers will support Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November 10 and 11.

Quotes

“Canada is a Pacific nation, and we are committed to expanding Canada’s relations with Asia-Pacific countries. APEC Leaders’ Week in Vietnam is an important opportunity to engage with partners on issues of bilateral and global importance, including gender equality and human rights, and on the ongoing and deeply concerning situations in Myanmar and North Korea.”

- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Canada’s engagement at APEC reinforces our commitment to fostering open markets, creating well-paying middle-class jobs, and helping businesses, especially women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises, succeed in international markets. Recognizing that we must make trade work for people, Canada has adopted a progressive trade approach by supporting policies and agreements that contribute more meaningfully to broader economic, social and environmental policy priorities in the interests of Canadians.”

- Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade

Quick Facts

  • Canada is a founding member of APEC, which was established in 1989 and has become the most important economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC’s primary purpose is to facilitate economic growth and prosperity in the region, with the vision of creating a seamless regional economy. 

  • APEC's 21 member economies account for more than 60% of global GDP and are home to 39% of the world’s population. Four of Canada’s top five trading partners are APEC members (the U.S., China, Mexico and Japan).

  • APEC partners accounted for more than 84% of Canada's total merchandise trade in 2016. Foreign direct investment from APEC economies in Canada was $468.8 billion in 2016.

  • APEC provides Canada with an opportunity to strengthen trade and economic ties with some of the Asia-Pacific region’s most dynamic economies.

  • Vietnam has become Canada’s largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region. In 2015, Vietnam became Canada’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia when two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Vietnam hit $4.7 billion. Trade between the two countries grew to $5.5 billion in 2016.

  • In July 2017, Canada hosted the third annual APEC Business Advisory Council meeting in Toronto. 

Associated Links

Contacts

Pierre-Olivier Herbert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaFP and @CanadaTrade
Like us on Facebook: Canada’s foreign policy - Global Affairs Canada and Canada’s international trade - Global Affairs Canada

Page details

Date modified: