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 WTTPRG22.doc
RESTRICTED
World Trade WT/TPR/G/22
15 October 1996
Organization
(96-4274)
Original: English/French
TRADE POLICY REVIEW
CANADA
Report by the Government
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), the Canadian Government's policy statement is attached.
FUTURE POLICY DIRECTIONS 2
(i) GATT/World Trade Organization 3
(ii) NAFTA 4
(iii) Canada-USA Trade Relations 4
(iv) Other Trading Arrangements 4
(v) Other Administrative Actions 5
(vi) The Emerging Issues 5
September 1996
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM
POLICY STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA - 1996
I.
In particular, Canada has been actively engaged in discussions to extend the NAFTA beyond its three original members, including undertaking negotiations with Chile over the past nine months to establish a free-trade agreement, as well as in discussions to achieve a free trade agreement in the hemisphere by 2005 and to establish free trade and investment in the APEC region by 2010/2020.
Continued steady growth in the USA market, and improved prospects in both Japan and most of the EU member states, as well as in certain other markets where Canadian-based firms are active, as well as higher investment at home and improved consumer confidence should underpin Canadian economic growth prospects in the period ahead.
Canada's economic growth, job creation, and maintaining its standard of living depend on its ability and success in attracting new investment and technology, to pursue important policies which do not place Canadian-based producers or services providers at a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace, and to maintain and expand access to export markets for both goods and services.
As well, improved coordination and cooperation within processes such as the G-7, the QUAD and with other key international organizations, such as the IMF, the IBRD and the OECD, remain a key priority for Canada in ensuring that the global trade and economic system runs effectively and openly.
Since the US Administration was not in a position to effectively pursue accession negotiations with Chile without a proper mandate, Canada has undertaken to negotiate a free trade initiative with Chile.
(v)Other Administrative Actions
Review of the Special Import Measures Act
The establishment of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) in 1984 represented the consolidation and modernisation of Canada’s trade remedy laws by incorporating the results of the Tokyo Round as well as Parliamentary recommendations concerning the design of the Canadian system.
Other improvements would include streamlined legislative provisions, the elimination of the "not made in Canada" conditions under certain duty-free tariff provisions and of the related administrative procedures, and the replacement of the Machinery Remission Program with duty-free and dutiable provisions for unavailable and available machinery respectively.
In particular, the WTO will need to ensure that the appropriate preparatory work is undertaken to enable both the review and/or further negotiations called for under the built-in agenda are effectively undertaken and that the necessary work in areas such as investment and competition policy is conducted and/or coordinated to ensure that an up-to-date, credible and open rules-based system is maintained and strengthened as we prepare to enter a new century.
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