Canada became privileged partner in Pacific Alliance
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On Wednesday 8 June, Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Minister of International Trade, and counterparts from the Alliance — Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru — signed a joint declaration. The signing positions Canada as a privileged partner of the bloc.
Such agreement formalizes the Canada-Pacific Alliance relationship and provides a framework for longer-term collaboration on a broad range of issues of mutual interest.
It will allow the development of concrete initiatives to support Canada’s and the Pacific Alliance’s economic players, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
The declaration identifies six areas for increased cooperation between Canada and the Alliance: Trade facilitation and promotion; education and training; small and medium-sized enterprises; science, technology and innovation; responsible natural-resource development and corporate social responsibility; and environment, including climate change and ocean conservation.
Over the next few months, officials will be working to identify opportunities in each of these areas to strengthen the relationship.
On June 17th, Chrystia Freeland and Ambassadors to the Pacific Alliance will discuss new opportunities provided by the agreement at an event in Toronto hosted by the Canadian Council of the Americas. ■