Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, met with José Miguel Ahumada, Chile's Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, on the margins of the 6th Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission meeting in Singapore.
Minister Ng emphasized that Canada and Chile have a deep history, a friendship spanning 80 years, and a close economic partnership built through free trade. The Minister and Undersecretary Ahumada committed to continue working together to ensure that progressive trade benefits people and workers in both countries.
Minister Ng highlighted how ratification of the CPTPP would support Canada and Chile's shared commitments to inclusive trade and gender equality, the inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade, responsible business conduct, the environment, and labour rights.
In this context, they discussed Chile's concerns with investor-state dispute-settlement systems. This issue is of importance to both countries and goes beyond the CPTPP.
Minister Ng reaffirmed Canada's enthusiasm to further strengthen trade relations during her upcoming trade mission to Chile in January 2023 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement.
