Minister Champagne to tour Quebec to promote regional economic development through trade 

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

June 23, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The opening of new markets enables Canadian businesses to access more trade and investment opportunities abroad and fosters the creation of well-paying middle-class jobs from coast to coast.

To promote Canada’s major trade diversification program to a greater number of Canadians across the country, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, is continuing his cross-country #TradeTalks tour with stops in several regions of Quebec.

From June 26 to July 6, 2018, Minister Champagne will visit the Saguenay–Lac Saint-Jean, Bas Saint-Laurent and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions. He will highlight new opportunities offered by trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was recently signed, and the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which recently entered into force.

While in Quebec, the Minister will meet with representatives from the aluminum, agricultural, mining and forestry industries, among others. In his meetings with local business communities at events throughout the region, he will also discuss ways to stimulate economic development through increased trade and investment.

Quotes

“Economic development and the creation of good regional jobs are key to our shared prosperity. I’m proud to undertake this tour of Quebec to talk to entrepreneurs from the mining, minerals and metals, technology and seafood sectors—to name but a few—about growth and about new opportunities tied to the implementation of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Canadian businesses have much to gain from these rapidly growing markets.”

- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade

Quick facts

  • 98% of Canadian and EU tariff lines became duty-free with CETA’s provisional application on September 21, 2017, creating new opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.

  • Combined, the CPTPP countries will eliminate over 95% of their tariffs, with the vast majority of tariffs to be eliminated immediately upon the CPTPP’s entry into force.

  • The CPTPP will provide new opportunities for Quebec exporters by eliminating tariffs on almost all of the province’s key exports, including metals and minerals, industrial machinery and maple syrup.

  • Canada’s aluminum industry contributes $4.7 billion to Canada’s GDP each year, generating approximately 10,500 direct jobs.

Associated links

Contacts

Pierre-Olivier Herbert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade
613-769-7480
Pierre-Olivier.Herbert@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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