Services a priority sector under Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan to create jobs and opportunities for workers and businesses
February 24, 2014 - Geneva, Switzerland - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today marked the conclusion of the latest round of negotiations for a trade in services agreement (TISA). The round took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from February 17 to 24, 2014.
A TISA would provide increased access as well as predictability and transparency for Canadian services companies. Service providers active in such diverse services fields as telecommunications, finance, computing and information technology, retail distribution, transportation, environment, express delivery, energy, accounting, law, architecture and engineering will greatly benefit from a TISA.
There are 23 WTO member economies currently participating in the negotiations: Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong (China), Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States. In late 2013, China and Uruguay formally expressed their interest in joining the negotiations.
Shannon Gutoskie
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
613-992-7332
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
613-995-1874
media@international.gc.ca
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