Prime
Minister Welcomes Commitments by APEC Leaders on Global Economic Crisis
LIMA, PERU
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed a commitment by APEC
leaders to follow the economic action plan agreed to earlier this month in
Washington, including a promise not raise new barriers to trade over the
next 12 months. The Prime
Minister made the statement following the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting November 22 and 23 in Lima,
Peru.
“In these
difficult economic times, it is absolutely critical that we follow through
on the G20 action plan to restore growth to the global economy and to
reform the international financial system,” said Prime Minister Harper.
“That means 'solid foundations and open doors' -- a
financial sector that is well regulated, economic fundamentals that are
sound, and an open trading system that is vigilent against the rise of
protectionism."
While in
Peru, Prime Minister Harper met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and
witnessed the signing of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the
Labour Cooperation Agreement, the Agreement on the Environment and the
Double Taxation Convention. All
of these agreements demonstrate Canada’s commitment to open trade and
investment.
“This
unprecedented, strong new agreement will benefit all Canadians by giving
Canadian exporters and investors across a number of sectors access to
the growing Colombian market,” said the Prime Minister.
“The two parallel agreements on labour rights and on the
environment will help us achieve objectives that both Canadians and
Colombians support.”
The Prime
Minister met with Peruvian President Alan García and the two
leaders discussed ways of moving forward on the Canada-Peru Free Trade
Agreement.
Canada is
also taking concrete steps at home to ensure the competitiveness of
Canadian business. The Prime
Minister announced that Canada has become a transitional member of the
APEC Business Travel Card initiative, which facilitates business travel
within the Asia-Pacific region. The
card provides business travellers with expedited entry into participating
APEC countries. Canada expects to be issuing cards to eligible business
travellers by 2011.
APEC, which
has 21 members, is the most important forum for economic cooperation in
the Asia-Pacific region. Its members account for 54 per cent of world GDP,
41 per cent of world population and 42 per cent of global merchandise
trade.
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PMO
Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca
