August 15, 2012 - The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced the joint release of the Canada-China Economic Complementarities Study, following a telephone conversation this morning with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming. The two ministers also issued a joint press release to accompany the study.
In 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and China’s President Hu Jintao instructed their officials to establish a bilateral working group to understand the potential benefits of deepening the Canada-China bilateral trade and economic relationship. To this end, the working group undertook a joint study of key sectors where the two economies are complementary and where there is the greatest potential for further growth.
“Increasing access for Canadian workers and businesses and deepening our country’s economic ties in fast-growing markets like China are key parts of our government’s pro-trade plan for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Fast. “Canada welcomes the release of the Economic Complementarities Study, which highlights the potential to increase the prosperity of Canadians and Chinese alike through appropriate bilateral instruments. We are carefully reviewing the information contained in the study and we are considering its findings.”
China is currently Canada’s second-largest single nation trading partner. Fuelled by a 27-percent boost in Canadian exports to China, two-way merchandise trade reached $65 billion in 2011.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
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