2007年3月WTO对加拿大贸易政策审议-主席总结发言(英文)
TRADE POLICY REVIEW: CANADA
21 and 23 March 2007
Concluding remarks by the Chairperson
This Trade Policy Review has led to an open and frank discussion between Canada and its trading partners, and illustrated the contribution that an open and transparent trade regime can make to achieving and maintaining high living standards. We owe the success of this Review to the participation of Director-General Salembier, Ambassador Stephenson, and the rest of the Canadian delegation, the forthright and refreshing comments by our discussant, Ambassador Matus, and the active involvement of many Members.
Members commended Canada for its impressive economic performance since its last Review in 2003. They attributed this to the implementation of sound macroeconomic policies and the flexibility afforded by Canada's open trade regime. However, noting that productivity growth had been lagging behind other OECD economies, Members encouraged Canada to take further steps to eliminate remaining trade and investment barriers. In this context, Canada indicated that it had recently introduced Advantage Canada, a long-term plan to improve its economic prosperity.
Members welcomed Canada's active participation in the WTO, praising its constructive involvement in the DDA. Canada reiterated that the DDA remained its top trade policy priority. Canada was also commended for its significant contribution to trade-related technical assistance and capacity building. Members acknowledged the value of Canada's wide-ranging unilateral initiative to enhance market access for LDC exports, and some asked Canada to consider extending unilateral preferences to other Members.
Members questioned certain aspects of Canada's foreign investment regime, including review criteria, ownership limitations, and residency requirements for directors. Several specific references were made to foreign investment restrictions in telecommunications and air transport. In response, Canada indicated that it was aware of the benefits of further liberalization and that Advantage Canada contemplated the reduction of investment barriers. Some Members also made calls for Canada to continue to take steps to facilitate its internal trade through increased regulatory coherence among different levels of government.
Members commended Canada for its low tariffs overall and significant number of duty-free tariff lines. Concern was expressed about tariff escalation and tariff peaks. Issues were raised about the time and requirements necessary to clear customs and obtain visas. The reduction in the use of anti-dumping measures was seen as positive, and hope was expressed that this trend would continue. Some technical regulations, for example certain packaging and labelling requirements, were considered overly onerous.
Members asked Canada to ensure that internal taxes on wine and beer did not discriminate against imports. On government procurement, several Members expressed interest in securing greater access to procurement opportunities at the sub-federal level. Canada provided answers to a number of questions on IPR-related issues, including copyrights, patents, geographical indications, and enforcement.
While Members commended Canada's efforts to promote agricultural reform in the DDA, concern was expressed about protection afforded to certain, mainly supply managed products. Disappointment was also expressed concerning proposed changes to Canada's dairy import regime, which would further distance parts of the agri-food sector from the market-based solutions that had worked so well in other areas. In this respect, Canada indicated that the supply management system had served its interests well and that it had no plans to put time limits on it. On the other hand, Members appreciated recent reform proposals for the Canadian Wheat Board and encouraged Canada to proceed with such reform.
In conclusion, this eighth Trade Policy Review of Canada has provided an opportunity to revisit issues considered in earlier reviews, and discuss the evolution of Canadian trade policies and practices since 2003. This review has confirmed Canada's steadfast commitment to the TPRM and, more generally, to the multilateral trading system. Canada's sound economic policies and outward-oriented trade regime have allowed its economy to adapt and prosper in the face of various external shocks. However, there remain a number of areas where reforms would both be beneficial for Canada and help to strengthen international trade, which Canada acknowledged is integral to its continued prosperity. I would thus encourage Canada, and all Members, to take further political risks in the DDA in order to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome to these negotiations.
I would like to close this meeting by thanking once again the Canadian delegation, the Discussant, and the numerous Members that took part in this meeting for contributing to an informative and engaging review. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Canadian delegation for the oral and written responses provided during the meeting; we look forward to receiving Canada's outstanding responses within the next month.
21 and 23 March 2007
Concluding remarks by the Chairperson
This Trade Policy Review has led to an open and frank discussion between Canada and its trading partners, and illustrated the contribution that an open and transparent trade regime can make to achieving and maintaining high living standards. We owe the success of this Review to the participation of Director-General Salembier, Ambassador Stephenson, and the rest of the Canadian delegation, the forthright and refreshing comments by our discussant, Ambassador Matus, and the active involvement of many Members.
Members commended Canada for its impressive economic performance since its last Review in 2003. They attributed this to the implementation of sound macroeconomic policies and the flexibility afforded by Canada's open trade regime. However, noting that productivity growth had been lagging behind other OECD economies, Members encouraged Canada to take further steps to eliminate remaining trade and investment barriers. In this context, Canada indicated that it had recently introduced Advantage Canada, a long-term plan to improve its economic prosperity.
Members welcomed Canada's active participation in the WTO, praising its constructive involvement in the DDA. Canada reiterated that the DDA remained its top trade policy priority. Canada was also commended for its significant contribution to trade-related technical assistance and capacity building. Members acknowledged the value of Canada's wide-ranging unilateral initiative to enhance market access for LDC exports, and some asked Canada to consider extending unilateral preferences to other Members.
Members questioned certain aspects of Canada's foreign investment regime, including review criteria, ownership limitations, and residency requirements for directors. Several specific references were made to foreign investment restrictions in telecommunications and air transport. In response, Canada indicated that it was aware of the benefits of further liberalization and that Advantage Canada contemplated the reduction of investment barriers. Some Members also made calls for Canada to continue to take steps to facilitate its internal trade through increased regulatory coherence among different levels of government.
Members commended Canada for its low tariffs overall and significant number of duty-free tariff lines. Concern was expressed about tariff escalation and tariff peaks. Issues were raised about the time and requirements necessary to clear customs and obtain visas. The reduction in the use of anti-dumping measures was seen as positive, and hope was expressed that this trend would continue. Some technical regulations, for example certain packaging and labelling requirements, were considered overly onerous.
Members asked Canada to ensure that internal taxes on wine and beer did not discriminate against imports. On government procurement, several Members expressed interest in securing greater access to procurement opportunities at the sub-federal level. Canada provided answers to a number of questions on IPR-related issues, including copyrights, patents, geographical indications, and enforcement.
While Members commended Canada's efforts to promote agricultural reform in the DDA, concern was expressed about protection afforded to certain, mainly supply managed products. Disappointment was also expressed concerning proposed changes to Canada's dairy import regime, which would further distance parts of the agri-food sector from the market-based solutions that had worked so well in other areas. In this respect, Canada indicated that the supply management system had served its interests well and that it had no plans to put time limits on it. On the other hand, Members appreciated recent reform proposals for the Canadian Wheat Board and encouraged Canada to proceed with such reform.
In conclusion, this eighth Trade Policy Review of Canada has provided an opportunity to revisit issues considered in earlier reviews, and discuss the evolution of Canadian trade policies and practices since 2003. This review has confirmed Canada's steadfast commitment to the TPRM and, more generally, to the multilateral trading system. Canada's sound economic policies and outward-oriented trade regime have allowed its economy to adapt and prosper in the face of various external shocks. However, there remain a number of areas where reforms would both be beneficial for Canada and help to strengthen international trade, which Canada acknowledged is integral to its continued prosperity. I would thus encourage Canada, and all Members, to take further political risks in the DDA in order to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome to these negotiations.
I would like to close this meeting by thanking once again the Canadian delegation, the Discussant, and the numerous Members that took part in this meeting for contributing to an informative and engaging review. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Canadian delegation for the oral and written responses provided during the meeting; we look forward to receiving Canada's outstanding responses within the next month.
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