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May 7, 2014 - Paris, France - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today concluded his visit to Paris, where he advocated freer and more open trade and investment at the OECD and WTO ministerial meetings.
He also addressed his colleagues and discussed Canada’s continued support for Ukraine while its sovereignty and territorial integrity remain threatened.
Minister Fast welcomed the OECD’s new Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI), which will help governments and businesses measure barriers that hinder services trade between countries. The STRI shows that Canada is well-positioned as a leader of open and efficient services markets.
In addition, Minister Fast, alongside his OECD counterparts, launched the OECD’s Southeast Asia Regional Programme, which will bring the OECD’s relationship with partners in Southeast Asia to a more strategic level, thereby contributing to Southeast Asia’s reform processes and regional-integration initiatives.
“Trade and investment represent the twin engines of growth to create jobs and opportunities for hard-working Canadians through freer and more open trade. Our bold trade policy and vigorous trade promotion help Canada stay ahead of the curve in fiercely competitive global markets.”
- Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade
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
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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