Canada wants no exemption in trade
Canada wants no exemption in trade
JAKARTA (JP): International Trade Minister of Canada Roy
MacLaren has made his country's stand on APEC's next meeting very
clear, saying that no exemption should be made in pursuing trade
liberalization among members of the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum.
After a meeting here yesterday with Indonesian Trade Minister
Satrio B. Joedono, MacLaren said that he believes an agreement to
that effect will be reached during the next APEC meeting in
Osaka, Japan, later this week.
He said that Canada will continue to stick to the Bogor
Declaration, which was adopted by APEC leaders at their last
summit in the West Java town of Bogor last November. The
agreement stipulates the year 2010 as the trade liberalization
deadline for developed countries and 2020 for the developing
countries of APEC.
The Osaka meeting is expected to result in a number of follow-
up programs to the Bogor declaration. However, progress could be
hindered by the interests of Japan, China, South Korea and
Taiwan, which are asking that agricultural products be exempted
from the trade liberalization.
The Asian countries' request was quickly countered by the
U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, who fear that such a demand
could set a precedent for other member countries to ask for
similar treatment for other goods.
Opposition
Canada will oppose the request to exempt agricultural products
from the trade liberalization, said MacLaren, who was accompanied
by 12 leaders of Canada's most prominent corporations, many of
which are actively pursuing new investment and commercial
opportunities in Indonesia.
He pointed out that trade liberalization among APEC member
countries is a preparatory step toward the implementation of
world trade liberalization under the World Trade Organization.
The Canadian firms include Nova Corporation, Gulf Canada
Resources/Asamera Oil, Asia Power Capital Group, Agra
International, TransCanada Pipelines, Harris-Farinon, Lanser
Technologies, SR Telecom, Novagas International, SNC-Lavalin,
Atomic Energy of Canada, Klockner Stadler Hurter and the Export
Development Corporation of Canada.
During his visit here -- before moving on to the APEC
Ministerial Meetings in Osaka on Nov. 15 -- the Canadian minister
will meet with senior Indonesian government and business leaders
to discuss opportunities for increased trade, technology and
investment ventures in Indonesia.
Indonesia is Canada's largest export market in the ASEAN
region, with two-way trade growing more than 15 percent per year.
Bilateral trade is expected to reach 1.1 billion Canadian dollars
this year.
Canada is also an important foreign investor in Indonesia,
with approximately five billion Canadian dollars in capital
outlays in the country.(12)