Statement by Minister of International Trade on International Women’s Day

March 8, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, today issued the following statement on the occasion of International Women’s Day:

“Today, we join people all over the globe to celebrate the innovative, talented and enterprising women who are changing the face of leadership in a variety of sectors, including business. While we celebrate the progress we have made in acknowledging and addressing the important relationship between trade and gender, we must reiterate that in today’s competitive global economy, leveraging the best and brightest entrepreneurs—both women and men—is not only the right thing to do but is a win-win situation for us all—and there remains more to be done.

“I am pleased to highlight this important day and illustrate our government’s unequivocal commitment to greater gender equality as part of our progressive trade agenda—one that creates more opportunities for everyone to benefit from and fully participate in the global economy.  It is fitting that I mark this day by participating in a roundtable discussion on Gender and Trade in Chile—the first country with which Canada has established a free trade agreement with a gender chapter.

“On International Women’s Day—and every day—we must do all that we can so that women-owned businesses can seize the enormous potential that exists to thrive and succeed in international markets. Our program Business Women in International Trade, which is part of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, received an additional $10 million over five years in Budget 2018, which will help to connect women with expanded export services and opportunities. This program helps to open doors, build connections and support businesswomen as they meet challenges developing and expanding their businesses internationally, especially given new opportunities arising from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. This, in turn, will contribute to Canada’s overall economic growth and competitiveness.”

Associated links

• Canada breaks new ground as it signs modernized free trade agreement with Chile focusing on trade and gender
• Business Women in International Trade newsletter
• Business Women in International Trade
• International Women's Day – Status of Women

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