January 27, 2007
No. 16
The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable
Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian
Wheat Board, today welcomed the growing efforts of World Trade Organization (WTO)
members to move the Doha Round forward, following an informal meeting of ministers
in Davos, Switzerland. They were in Davos with representatives from approximately 30
countries, along with WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, to press for progress toward
the resumption of multilateral trade negotiations.
“This Ministerial meeting was an important opportunity for all of us to take stock of
where we stand, and to explore what is required to move forward,” said Minister
Emerson. “The productive talks reaffirmed our commitment to trade liberalization
through the Doha Round, although it is clear that there is much work to do to bridge the
gaps between the players in key areas.”
These WTO negotiations are important to Canadians. Canada relies heavily on trade
for its economic prosperity, and expanding access to world markets for both our goods
and our services is at the core of the negotiations. At the same time, the negotiations
offer a real opportunity to level the playing field for all countries through the
strengthening of trade rules.
“Canada has a fundamental interest in further strengthening the international rules
governing agricultural trade,” said Minister Strahl. “We are committed to work
constructively within the WTO to achieve progress in these negotiations for our entire
agriculture sector. We will continue to seek the elimination of all forms of export
subsidies, the substantial reduction of trade-distorting domestic support, and real and
significant market access improvements while continuing to defend our supply-managed sectors.”
The Davos informal WTO Ministerial meeting represents the first significant meeting of
ministers since the suspension of the Doha Round in July 2006, when negotiations
reached an impasse on issues pertaining to market access for agriculture and
non-agricultural market access, and agricultural domestic support.
Canada remains committed to more liberalized trade, to the rules-based multilateral
trading system and to the objectives of the Doha Round.
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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
613-371-1557
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
http://www.international.gc.ca
Jeff Howard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
613-759-1059
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
613-759-7972; 1-866-345-7972
