Parliamentary Secretary Goldsmith-Jones to attend Pacific Alliance Summit in Puerto Vallarta and visit Monterrey, Mexico

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

July 20, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Diversifying trade and ensuring that people everywhere can take advantage of opportunities that flow from trade and investment are at the heart of Canada’s progressive trade agenda. To this end, the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing economic ties with the Americas and the Pacific region to create opportunities and good middle-class jobs for hard-working Canadians and businesses.

On behalf of the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Diversification, will attend the Pacific Alliance Ministerial Council Meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on July 22 and 23, 2018.

Building on the successful completion of the Pacific Alliance’s fifth round of free trade negotiations in Mexico City, July 8 to 13, the Ministerial Council Meeting is an opportunity for Canada to discuss ongoing free trade negotiations with Trade Ministers from the four Pacific Alliance member countries, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, and the other candidate Associated States. It also provides an opportunity to explore the role of the Pacific Alliance as a free trade promoter.

Ministers and officials of Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as well as representatives from several of the Alliance’s 55 observing countries, will also be attending the Ministerial Council Meeting, providing Canada with further opportunities to discuss and advance its diversified and progressive trade agenda. Canada is also negotiating a comprehensive, progressive, and inclusive free trade agreement with Mercosur countries. Two rounds have been held so far with a third round scheduled in Ottawa in September 2018.

Parliamentary Secretary Goldsmith-Jones will then travel to Monterrey, Mexico on July 24 and 25, where she will meet with business representatives and key members from the regional Canadian Chambers of Commerce, the Chamber of Industry of Nuevo Leon, and the Mexican Council of International Trade to enhance Canada and Mexico’s existing trade, investment, and innovation relationships.

Quotes

“The Pacific Alliance promotes greater economic growth for member countries, as well as a chance to strengthen economic and trade relations within the Americas and the Pacific region. I look forward to continued constructive discussions with Pacific Alliance members and other countries during our meetings in Puerto Vallarta.”

- Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Diversification

“Canada continues to push forward with its ambitious trade diversification agenda. We are committed to promoting trade and investment opportunities with important and like-minded emerging markets, such as the Pacific Alliance member countries, to benefit Canadians and hemispheric partners.”

- The Hon. Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification

Quick facts

  • The Pacific Alliance is a regional initiative created in 2011 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, which seeks the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

  • Canada was the first non-Latin American observer to the Pacific Alliance in 2012 and in 2016, was the first observer to sign a Joint Declaration on a Partnership. In June 2017, Canada was among the first countries invited to become an Associated State of the Pacific Alliance, along with Australia, New Zealand and Singapore which will require negotiation of an FTA with the Pacific Alliance.

  • With a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion and a total population of 223 million, the Pacific Alliance represents a considerable market for Canada.

  • The four Pacific Alliance countries are Canada’s top trade partners in Latin America. Canada’s total merchandise trade with the Pacific Alliance reached $50.5 billion in 2017.

  • Mexico represents one of Canada’s most important economic relationships. It is Canada’s third largest source of merchandise imports, and its fifth most important merchandise export destination.

  • Canadian trade and investment with Mexico is steadily growing, reaching over $43.3 billion in two-way merchandise trade in 2017.

Associated links

Contacts

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

Page details

Date modified: