June 19, 2006
No. 69
The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of International Trade, today met with
provincial and territorial ministers and senior officials in Ottawa to discuss the current
status of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.
“The WTO negotiations are at a critical stage right now,” said Minister Emerson. “It is
essential that provinces and territories be kept informed of key developments and that
their views be reflected in our position as we move forward in the Doha talks.”
At the meeting, Minister Emerson provided an update on the current Doha
Development Round of WTO negotiations, and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to
seeking an ambitious outcome. In light of WTO discussions at the end of June that will
focus on agricultural and non-agricultural market access negotiations, he also
discussed with his counterparts how best to position Canada in order to advance its
interests in the negotiations overall.
“The WTO rules-based framework is an important element in Canada’s global
commerce agenda,” Minister Emerson added. “Today’s meeting provided an
opportunity for a frank discussion on how we will actively work together to make
Canada more competitive in global markets.”
In addition to reviewing Canada’s forward strategy for the WTO negotiations, ministers
and officials had the opportunity to discuss other areas of shared commercial interests,
including bilateral trade and increased global competitiveness.
The meeting was attended by six ministers from Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, and senior
officials from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the Yukon.
The following ministers were present at the meeting: Gary Mar, Alberta Minister of
International and Intergovernmental Relations; Raymond Bachand, Quebec Minister of
Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade; David Alward, New Brunswick
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture; Ronald M. Chisholm, Nova Scotia
Minister of Agriculture; Jim Bagnall, P.E.I. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Aquaculture; and Trevor Taylor, Newfoundland and Labrador Acting Minister of
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jennifer Chiu
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
(613) 992-7332
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
(613) 996-2000
http://www.international.gc.ca
