Ottawa, December 21, 2012
2012-177
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The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced the launch of consultations on Canada’s tariff regime for developing countries as part of the comprehensive review of the regime announced in Economic Action Plan 2012.
“Our aim is to ensure that the tariff regime focuses on the countries most in need of Canada’s assistance to help promote their economic growth and increase their exports,” said Minister Flaherty. “We want to ensure that this type of development assistance is focused on those countries most in need of tariff preferences for trade and economic growth.”
Since 1974, Canada has granted unilateral preferential tariff concessions to imports from developing countries through the General Preferential Tariff (GPT) to assist those countries’ economic development. The last comprehensive review of the GPT took place almost 20 years ago. Since then, the global economy has changed considerably and has seen significant shifts in the income levels and trade competitiveness of a number of developing countries. The review of the GPT is intended to better reflect the current global economy and to ensure that the GPT aligns with Canada’s international development objectives.
As part of this review, the Government is seeking comments from all interested parties on proposed changes to the various elements of the GPT. Details of the proposed changes are outlined in a notice published in the December 22, 2012 edition of the Canada Gazette, Part I. Submissions are due by February 15, 2013 and can be sent to:
General Preferential Tariff Consultations
Department of Finance Canada
International Trade Policy Division, 14th Floor, East Tower
140 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G5
Tariff-Tarif@fin.gc.ca
Kathleen Perchaluk
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861
Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080
