Canada To Join Plurilateral Trade Talks

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 The Canadian Government has announced that it will participate in negotiations toward a new agreement on international trade in services.
 The talks will be launched with the initial involvement of 21 World Trade Organization members, which together represent more than two birds of world trade in services.Both during and after conclusion of the negotiations, the agreement will be open to all other World Trade Organization members who wish to join.
They will cover all services sectors, including information and communication technology services, logistics and transport, financial services and services for businesses.
 According the Government figures, services represent almost 70% of the Canadian economy, and are responsible for the employment of nearly 13,5m workers. In 2011, Canada exported a total of almost CAD 83bn ( USD 81bn ) worth of services.
 The Government believes that a potential agreement could provide increased access to and legal stability in markets that are open but not subject to trade agreements. It has launched a public consultation on the talks, seeking views from businesses, citizen-based organizations and individual Canadians, as well as from the provincial and territorial governments. These consultations will run until April 30.
 Making the announcement, International Trade Minister Ed Fast said: " A high-quality international agreement that will liberalize trade in services will lead to new and exciting opportunities foe Canada's small and medium-sized enterprises and boost trade in Canada's financial, engineering, energy, mining and environmental services sectors. As part of the most ambitious trade expansions plan Canadian history, our government will continue to expand Canada's global trade and investment footprint."
 Chair of the Canadian Services Coalition, Michael Landry, welcomed the news :
 " Services are vital and growing component of the Canadian economy. Today they represent almost two-thirds of our Gross Domestic Product, yet movement on this front has long been stalled by the Doha Round. The Canadian Services Coalition is pleased that the Canadian government is prepared to be at the table for this important negotiations, and we look forward to the rapid conclusion of an ambitious and comprehensive agreement on services."