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Statement by International Trade Minister Ed Fast Following a Meeting with Federation of Canadian Municipalities

(No. 258 - September 9, 2011 - 7:20p.m. ET) The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today issued the following statement after his meeting with the National Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) in Nelson, British Columbia, where he spoke of the many benefits a Canada-EU free trade agreement will bring to hardworking Canadians in local communities from coast to coast to coast:

“A Canada-EU trade agreement will be Canada’s most ambitious and most significant trade initiative since the historic North American Free Trade Agreement. 

“The benefits to Canada are expected to be enormous: a 20-percent boost in bilateral trade, a $12-billion annual boost to Canada’s economy, and about 80,000 new jobs.

“I thank the FCM for recognizing the clear benefits that a Canada-EU trade agreement will bring to our shared constituents and for identifying specific principles they would like to see reflected in an eventual agreement.

“I am strongly committed to continuing to keep Canadians informed of the negotiations as they progress, and to continuing to consult as extensively as possible with key stakeholders—including the FCM—as we build an ambitious agreement that delivers the greatest economic benefit possible to Canadian businesses, workers and families. 

“The FCM is working hard to ensure that local communities continue to play an important role in Canada’s economic success. Our government is committed to continuing to work collaboratively with provinces, territories and local communities as we pursue our ambitious, job-creating pro-trade plan.”

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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
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