July 24, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario
International Trade Minister Ed Fast today announced that negotiators have reached a breakthrough on an expanded WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA). The expanded agreement will eliminate tariffs on an additional list of more than 200 information and communications technology (ICT) and related products, valued by the WTO to be worth an estimated $1 trillion in annual trade globally.
Canada is one of approximately 50 WTO members participating in the expansion of the ITA, along with the European Union, Japan, China and the United States.
WTO negotiators have agreed to the list of additional ICT and related products and will now finalize the technical details of the Agreement. The objective is to finalize the ITA for the WTO’s 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2015.
“Since the beginning, Canada has actively supported the expansion of the Information Technology Agreement. Today’s breakthrough is important for global trade and investment. This is the WTO’s first major tariff-cutting agreement in 18 years.
“Canada’s information and communications technology industry will benefit from this agreement, as it will reduce costs and increase export opportunities. Our government remains committed to creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians.”
- Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade
Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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