Canada’s leadership on the world stage in support of free and open trade continues with new trade and investment accomplishments
January 25, 2014 - Davos, Switzerland - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today wrapped up meetings at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF), held from January 22 to 25 in Davos, Switzerland. Minister Fast also attended the WTO Informal Ministerial Gathering on the margins of the WEF.
At the WEF, Minister Fast announced the launch of negotiations toward a new WTO plurilateral agreement on environmental goods, which will accelerate trade liberalization for a broad range of environmental products, creating new jobs and opportunities while advancing key economic and environmental objectives. Minister Fast also congratulated Groupe FerroAtlántica of Spain, a world-leading producer of silicon metal and manganese and ferrosilicon alloys, on its $375-million investment in Quebec to build a new plant that will create more than 300 manufacturing jobs; the plant will open late in 2016.
In meetings with key international counterparts, as well as with leading Canadian business and industry leaders, Minister Fast once again highlighted Canada as an investment destination of choice and reiterated that a key foreign policy objective for Canada is to advance the commercial interests of Canadian firms in priority markets around the world as part of the Harper government’s recently announced Global Markets Action Plan.
Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
613-992-7332
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
613-995-1874
media@international.gc.ca
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