International Trade Minister Ed Fast says expanded free trade agreement is part of Harper government’s pro-trade plan for jobs and economic growth

February 10, 2012 – The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced the successful conclusion of a second round of negotiations to modernize the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement.

“Expanding our free trade agreement with Costa Rica will enhance access for businesses in many sectors, which means jobs and prosperity for Canadian workers and families,” said Minister Fast. “By deepening Canada’s trading relationships around the world, our government is committed to helping businesses gain preferred access in priority markets.”

The original agreement entered into force in 2002 but did not include provisions in areas such as cross-border trade in services, financial services, investment and government procurement. An expanded agreement would create greater opportunities for Canadian businesses in many sectors, including construction, manufacturing, financial services and telecommunications.

The talks took place February 6 to 10 in San José, Costa Rica. A third round is scheduled for April 2012.

Costa Rica has been Canada’s largest trading partner in Central America since 2002, accounting for 31 percent of Canada’s two-way merchandise trade with the region in 2010. The main categories of Canadian exports to Costa Rica in 2010 were paper and paperboard, cereals and machinery.

“In what remain globally challenging economic times and with one in five Canadian jobs generated by trade, expanding agreements like ours with Costa Rica is a key part of our government’s low-tax, pro-trade plan for jobs and economic growth,” added Minister Fast. “Promoting free trade, diversifying our export markets and helping Canadian businesses expand and succeed in priority markets around the world will strengthen the financial security of Canadian families and ensure Canada’s economic success now and into the future.”

In the Americas region, Canada has concluded trade agreements with Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the United States. Together, Canadian exports to these countries made up over three quarters of Canada’s worldwide exports in 2010.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
Follow us on Twitter: @Canada_Trade

The CCA and the Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica present a luncheon with Dr. Luis Liberman, Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica.

“Costa Rica’s Economic and Democratic Stability”

Luis Liberman was elected second vice president of the Republic of Costa Rica in February of 2010. Vice President Liberman was also vice president of the National Company of Power and Light. He worked as general manager and vice president of the board to transform it into one of the strongest financial institutions in the country, becoming Scotiabank Costa Rica in 2006 where he also served as CEO. Vice President Liberman served as economic advisor, vice minister of finance, and advisor to the World Bank under the administration of Daniel Oduber Quirós. Previously, he was a professor of Economics at the University of Costa Rica. Vice President Liberman received his Ph.D. in Economics (Honours) from the University of Illinois.

Place:

Heenan Blaikie LLP

333 Bay Street, Suite 2900 Toronto, Ontario M5H 2T4

Time: 11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.

CCA Members: $40.00 (+HST)

Non-members: $60.00 (+HST)

For registration, please click here

The Canadian Council for the Americas in partnership with the Canadian International Council presented a luncheon discussion, January 26, 2012. The creation of NAFTA in 1994 delivered seven years of impressive trade and cross-border investment growth.  Since 2001, however, NAFTA momentum has slowed down as a result of a number of factors. Trade block integration has continued a pace in Europe and Asia, leaving North America behind.  Is there a path out of the bog for North America?

Speakers - Robert Pastor, Director of the Center for North American Studies, VP of International Affairs, and Professor at American University, Washington, D.C., - Gerald Butts, President and CEO, WWF-Canada, Isabel Studer, Founding Director, Center for Dialogue and Analysis on North America, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico City. Moderator  - Stephen Blank, Co-Chair of the North American Transportation Competitiveness Research Council. He recently retired as a professor of international business and management at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business.

The Canadian Council for the Americas (CCA), was honored to host its sold out Inaugural Awards Gala on September 22, 2011  in Toronto.

The CCA presented its Statesman of the Year Award to Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, President of the Republic of Colombia, its Lifetime Business Achievement Award to Peter Munk, Founder and Chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation and its Lifetime Public Service Award to Edgar Dosman, Distinguished Author and Senior Research Fellow at York University.

To view the event please visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAiuOS1uuU4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW74-d9tsPE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drV8hc5jpcw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRrk_x5moqc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goOG6eemuBw

For more information, please contact Cristina Flores at 416-367-4313 or cca@cogeco.net

The CCA  presented our Statesman of the Year Award to President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, President of the Republic of Colombia, the Lifetime Business Achievement Award to Mr. Peter Munk, and the  Lifetime Public Service Achievement Award to Professor Edgar Dosman.

 It was a great honour for the CCA to have President Santos make his first trip to Canada as President to accept this award, deliver the keynote speech and engage in dialogue with our Gala Awards Dinner guests. 

 Sincerely,

Ken Frankel

Chair, Canadian Council for the Americas

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 Event Videos

Gala Introduction

Click here to view the embedded video.