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Asia-Pacific Gateway Facilitates Record Lumber Exports

January 19, 2012 - The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, today released the following statement in response to a report from Forestry Innovation Investment, a B.C. Crown agency, that exporters in that province are sending record amounts of lumber to China:

“Our government’s commitment to expanding Canada’s access to high-growth foreign markets is creating jobs and economic growth across Canada.

“Canadian lumber exports are arriving in China in record quantities, thanks in part to our government’s support for building the Asia-Pacific Gateway and our ambitious plan to diversify Canada’s export markets.

“These investments are positioning Canada as the gateway of choice between Asia and North America. In fact, Canada’s west coast ports are more than two days closer to Asian markets than are any other ports in North America.

“Our ambitious pro-trade plan to help Canadian businesses expand and succeed in priority Asia-Pacific markets is helping to create and protect jobs, prosperity and economic opportunities for Canadians.

“Our government is strongly committed to helping the forestry sector and other sectors of our economy succeed in markets around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific area, where a large part of Canada’s economic future lies.”

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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
Follow us on Twitter: @Canada_Trade

Patricia Best
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
613-996-2007

Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
613-992-4447