6 July 2009
Ottawa, Ontario
Today, on the eve of his departure to join other world leaders at the G8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper received an update from government officials involved in negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union.
“Canada has always been a trading nation, and we continue to advance the cause of free and open trade at every possible opportunity on the world stage,” said the Prime Minister, who formally launched the economic partnership negotiations with his EU counterparts on May 6, 2009. “With the world still grappling with the impact of the global recession, it is more important than ever that all countries resist protectionist pressures.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted other progress the Government has made in its ambitious free trade agenda. This progress includes:
• Permanently and unilaterally eliminating tariffs on a range of machinery and equipment as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
• Signing new free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Jordan.
• Implementing a new Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association countries of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
• The Prime Minister called for the early start of negotiations on a Canada-CARICOM free trade agreement in his address to the Jamaican Parliament on April 20, 2009.
“Expanded, free and open trade is powerful economic stimulus today, and the foundation of the jobs of the future,” said the Prime Minister. “Around the world, those looking to fight protectionism and expand trading opportunities can count on having a partner in Canada.”
