In his keynote address at an International Trade Day gathering today International Trade Minister David L. Emerson outlined the federal government's vision to make Canada more competitive. While the Canadian economy performed well in 2005 both at home and abroad, Minister Emerson stressed the need to take a more focused and disciplined approach to trade and competitiveness.

"While Canada's economy stood its ground in the face of great challenges in 2005, our government understands that, in today's global economy, complacency is a killer," said Minister Emerson. "Our job, as political and business leaders, is not to savour Canada's current successes. Our job is to identify, and get ahead of, the risks and challenges that lie around the corner."

The Minister emphasized that Canada's prosperity hinges on strengthening the Canada-U.S. relationship, fostering a more competitive North America and making inroads into rapidly expanding Asian markets such as India, China and South Korea—including through the government's commitment and practical plan for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

"If the past few years have taught us anything, it is that, as a nation, we need to adopt a more aggressive, more focused and more disciplined approach to trade and competitiveness," added the Minister.

Some of the government's top strategies to increase international trade in 2006 include:

• increasing market access to the U.S. and North America by improving border effectiveness and enhancing continental competitiveness;
• creating further business opportunities in Asia by pursuing foreign investment promotion and protection agreements with China and India and a free trade agreement with South Korea, and building on the economic framework and ongoing joint study with Japan; and
• seeking an ambitious outcome for the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Agenda negotiations.

Two annual publications were also launched at the event. Both are available for download online.

The Seventh Annual Report on Canada's State of Trade
This report explores Canada's trade performance at home and abroad in 2005, covering developments in the world economy that have influenced Canada's economic performance. It also summarizes Canadian trade and investment flows by sector and by region of the world.
http://www.international.gc.ca/eet/trade/state-of-trade-en.asp

Canada's International Market Access Priorities 2006
This report outlines Canada's strategy for achieving improved access for goods, services and investment in key foreign markets for Canadian exporters and investors. The 2006 edition introduces a new online database of trade barriers to help Canadian businesses succeed in the global marketplace. http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/cimap-en.asp

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