POLICY MONITOR CANADA » Foreign Affairs

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH COLOMBIA

Admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:44:58 +0000

CANADA TABLES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH COLOMBIA

Engaging in a dynamic emerging market of 45 million people and an economy with high growth potential

(No. 98 – March 10, 2010 – 3:45 p.m. ET) The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), today followed through on a commitment made in last week’s Speech from the Throne by tabling legislation to implement the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. At the same time, the government is also tabling parallel labour and environment agreements with Colombia.

“International trade is critical to our economic recovery,” said Minister Van Loan. “As we move beyond stimulus spending and diversify opportunities for Canadian business abroad, this free trade agreement will help Canadians prosper. At this time of global economic recovery, Canadians can count on our government to oppose protectionism and defend free and open trade on the world stage. Canadian businesses and workers can compete with the best in the world, and this agreement will help them do it.”

The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement will provide greater market access for Canadian exporters of goods such as wheat, pulses, barley, paper products and heavy equipment. An increasing number of Canadian investors and exporters are entering the Colombian market, and it is also a strategic destination for Canadian direct investment, especially in mining, oil exploration, printing and education.

“The Free Trade Agreement, along with its parallel agreements on labour and the environment, is but one of several Government of Canada instruments that support Colombia’s efforts toward greater peace, security and prosperity,” said Minister Van Loan.

Under the Labour Cooperation Agreement, Canada and Colombia agree to respect and enforce internationally recognized labour standards and principles, such as freedom of association, the right to bargain collectively, and the elimination of child labour, forced labour and workplace discrimination. The Agreement on the Environment commits Canada and Colombia to pursuing high levels of environmental protection as the two countries intensify their commercial relationship, and to avoid weakening their environmental laws to encourage trade or investment.

This free trade agreement is part of a broader international trade strategy to improve Canadian companies’ access to key international markets and to enhance opportunities for Canadian exporters and investors. Canada has free trade agreements in force with Chile, Costa Rica, the European Free Trade Association countries, Israel, Peru, and Mexico and the United States together. It has concluded free trade negotiations with Jordan and Panama. Canada is continuing trade talks with the Caribbean Community, Central America, the Dominican Republic, the European Union, India and the Republic of Korea.

Veterans Affairs Research

Admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:23:48 +0000

Transition to Civilian Life Survey (TCLS)

In order to help Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the Department of National Defence (DND) ensure that their programs continue to meet the needs of former and still-serving Canadian Forces (CF) members, more needs to be known about how former CF members are doing after they leave the military.

To get this information, Statistics Canada will conduct a national telephone survey of 4,800 former CF Regular Force members on behalf of VAC and DND. Survey participants will be randomly selected by Statistics Canada from the population of CF Regular Force members who were released from 1998 to 2007. The survey will consist of a telephone interview lasting about 30 minutes and covering topics such as health status (mental, physical and social); factors impacting health such as smoking, alcohol use and stress, and disability.

Participation is entirely voluntary, but the co-operation of those who are selected to participate is important to ensure the results are as accurate as possible.

More information about the survey is available on the Statistics Canada Web site at www.statcan.gc.ca

AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN SASKATCHEWAN AND VIETNAM

Admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:24:49 +0000

AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN SASKATCHEWAN AND VIETNAM

Today, Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, and Minister responsible for Immigration Rob Norris, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Vietnam that will formalize collaborative relations between Saskatchewan and Vietnam. The memorandum is focused on immigration, education and entrepreneurship.

“This agreement will help to create more jobs in our province while building more diverse, dynamic and cosmopolitan communities right across Saskatchewan,” Norris said. “In addition to looking abroad, we are supporting education here in Saskatchewan, especially within First Nations and Métis communities.”

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nomination Program, the provincial immigration initiative, has experienced significant growth under the Wall government, contributing to recent population records. In 2008-09, 2,914 applicants were nominated for residence in Saskatchewan, 52 of these being from Vietnam. The goal for 2009-10 is 3,400 nominees, with anticipated growth from Vietnam.

As well, Vietnam is one of three sites for the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology’s (SIAST) overseas “skills passport” project, which focuses on skills assessment to facilitate foreign credential recognition for specific skilled workers.

This agreement builds on the educational and research agreements that the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina and SIAST have established with Vietnamese post-secondary institutions.

The agreement signed today comes out of the Memorandum of Intent Saskatchewan and Vietnam signed in April 2009 that was aimed at increasing mutual understanding and closer economic and technological co-operation.

Consultations on Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine

Admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:04:16 +0000

Consultations on Possible Free Trade Agreement Negotiations with Ukraine

The Government of Canada is seeking the views of Canadians on the scope of a possible free trade agreement (FTA) between Canada and Ukraine.

This notice is part of the Government of Canada’s domestic consultation process with business, citizen-based organizations and individual Canadians, as well as with provincial and territorial governments, to obtain advice and views on priorities, objectives and concerns to help outline the parameters of this initiative.

For information about this initiative with the Ukraine and the consultations, please see the Canada Gazette Notice of October 31, 2009, as well as the additional background information.

All interested parties are invited to submit their views. Please be advised that any information received as a result of this consultation will be considered as public information, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

http://www.international.gc.ca/consultations/active/index.aspx?lang=eng#Ukraine

Contributions can be sent by e-mail, facsimile or mail to:

Canada-Ukraine Talks Towards Possible FTA Negotiations
Consultations and Liaison Division – BSL
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2
Fax: 613-944-3489
Email: consultations@international.gc.ca

Canada ready for review by Global Forum tax information exchange peers

Admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:57:12 +0000

Paris, France, January 7, 2010 … Today, after a meeting with the director of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mr. Jeffrey Owens, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food), announced that Canada has volunteered to be among the first countries to participate in a tax information exchange peer review process as part of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information.

“Canada recognizes that the advancement of transparency and exchange of information is critical to tax fairness and the integrity of the tax system, not only for Canada, but for countries around the world,” said Minister Blackburn. “Today, I confirmed Canada’s continued commitment to the work of the OECD in the area of tax administration, in particular regarding the establishment of international standards for transparency and the effective exchange of information.”

Under international treaties, Canada cooperates with a large number of countries by exchanging information about foreign investments for tax purposes. To this end, Canada is working hard to increase the flow of information by negotiating Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs). The work of Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information and initiatives in Canada’s 2007 Budget have created a strong incentive for jurisdictions to enter into these TIEAs.

The Global Forum has formed a Peer Review Group to ensure that TIEAs and exchange of information provisions in tax treaties are effectively implemented. The peer review process is expected to begin in the next few months.

“By taking a leadership role and volunteering to be among the first countries to undergo the peer review process, Canada will be in a strong position to fast-track the implementation of these agreements and build on the growing global momentum that currently exists,” added Minister Blackburn.

As of October 2009, TIEA negotiations have commenced with 14 jurisdictions, in addition to the signing of Canada’s first TIEA with Netherlands in respect of the Netherlands Antilles on August 29, 2009.

While in Europe, Minister Blackburn is holding a series of high-level working meetings with some of his tax administration counterparts from the Seven Country Working Group on Tax Havens to further advance co-operation between Canada and its international partners on addressing tax evasion and aggressive international tax planning schemes. Minister Blackburn’s tour includes meetings with his tax administration counterparts in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

For media information

Proposal to amend the Trade-marks Act

Admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:45:12 +0000

Consultation – Trade-marks – (Dec 15, 2009 to Mar 15, 2010) Proposal to amend the Trade-marks Act

Consultation and Discussion

The maintenance of a modern and efficient trade-marks regime can help enhance a country’s overall competitiveness. Recently, many of Canada’s trading partners have amended their trade-mark laws to respond to new business trends and to an increase in globalization. As part of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s (CIPO) commitment to improving the Intellectual Property administrative framework, CIPO is assessing Canada’s trade-marks regime with a specific focus on its responsiveness to new business practices and improved international standards.

The purpose of this consultation is to seek your views on this proposal. Your attention is directed to the following document, which explains the proposal.

Aligning Canada’s trade-marks regime with modern business practices

Your comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration. All comments will be posted on our website following the consultation period, and will be kept online for three (3) months from the date of posting. Your comments are appreciated and will add value to our analysis of possible legislative improvements.

Should you wish to provide comments on the proposal, please submit them by March 15, 2010 by email to Alison Bunting, by fax at 819-953-CIPO (819-953-2476), or by regular mail to the following address:

Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Trade-marks Branch
Attention: Alison Bunting
50 Victoria Street
Place du Portage II
Gatineau QC K1A 0C9

Canada-India Discussions on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:09:31 +0000

Canada-India Exploratory Discussions on Possible Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Negotiations

During a visit to India, January 18-22, 2009, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, announced that Canada and India have agreed to initiate exploratory discussions towards a potential comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

Canada Introduces Implementing Legislation for Free Trade Agreement with Jordan

Admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:47:40 +0000

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, on behalf of the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today introduced legislation to implement the Canada-Jordan free trade agreement (FTA) and related agreements on labour cooperation and the environment. Upon implementation, the FTA will eliminate tariffs on over 99 percent (by value) of recent Canadian exports to Jordan, directly benefiting Canadian exporters.

For more information about this agreement, please consult the news release.

CANADA AND INDIA ADVANCE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:55:28 +0000

CANADA AND INDIA ADVANCE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Canada and India took the next step toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), as the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and Shri Anand Sharma, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, today signed papers to establish a joint study group.

The signing of this memorandum of understanding was witnessed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and India’s Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

“We have seen significant progress since my first visit to India in January, where we announced the initiation of discussions. India has been most supportive. The creation of this joint study group marks an important step forward in our discussions,” said Minister Day.

“A comprehensive economic partnership agreement would help expand trade, open doors for Canadian exporters, encourage economic growth and create jobs in both our countries.”

The joint study group will be comprised of officials from both Canada and India. It will look at key sectors of interest and the possible parameters of a CEPA.

The group is expected to finalize its report within six months. A CEPA with India could deliver commercial benefits to many sectors of the Canadian economy, including forest products, nickel, aircraft, electrical machinery, fish and seafood products and agricultural products.

The Government of Canada held public consultations from March to April 2009 to seek input from Canadians on developing a CEPA with India.

This is Minister Day’s third visit to India since January. In September, the Minister opened the new trade office in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat. With a total of eight trade offices in India, the Government of Canada has created one of Canada’s most extensive trade networks anywhere in the world.

Canadian two-way merchandise trade with India reached an all-time high of $4.6 billion in 2008, up 22.5 percent over 2007. Merchandise exports to India in 2008 totalled $2.4 billion—an impressive 35-percent increase over the year before—and the commercial relationship between the two countries continues to grow. From January to August 2009 alone, Canada’s exports to India were up by three percent despite the effects of the global economic downturn.

Patent Branch to begin consultation

Admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:21:17 +0000

November 16, 2009

Patent Branch to begin consultation on MOPOP Chapter 9: Description

As part of the ongoing regular process of updating the Manual of Patent Office Practice (MOPOP), the draft revised Chapter 9: Description is being released for public consultation today, November 16, 2009.

Stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide comments on the draft chapter from November 16, 2009, to December 30, 2009.

Chapter 9 deals with the requirements for providing a correct and full description of an invention; the proposed chapter revisions will provide greater detail for these requirements.

The MOPOP is published to provide patent examiners, applicants, agents, and the public in general with a guide on the procedures and practices relative to the prosecution of patent applications in Canada under the current Patent Act and Patent Rules. This Manual is to be considered solely as a guide and should not be quoted as an authority. Authority must be found in the Patent Act, the Patent Rules, and in decisions of the Courts interpreting them.