TED MENZIES CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS WITH EUROPEAN LEADERS

July 03, 2007

Ottawa - Ted Menzies, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Minister of International Cooperation, concluded a successful trip to Switzerland and Liechtenstein last week. Canada recently concluded negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which include Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway.

“Our new FTA partners were very keen to discuss what products and services Canada can provide for the European market. We see a lot of potential for increased trade and investment, and EFTA will offer Canadian companies a stepping stone into the broader European market,” said Menzies. “This FTA puts Canada back in business. There is a lot of buzz in Europe about what Canada has to offer.”

During his trip, Menzies met with trade ministers from the four EFTA countries to celebrate the conclusion of the agreement. He also had bilateral meeting with Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, and participated in a luncheon hosted by Liechtenstein’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Menzies also met with European companies to discuss opportunities for using Canadian products. In particular, he met with executives from Hilcona, one of Europe’s leading food service companies.

“My meeting with Hilcona highlighted the enormous potential for Canadian products in the European markets. In particular, Hilcona showed a lot of interest in Canadian wheat products. There are exciting opportunities for Alberta producers in these European markets,” said Menzies.

In 2006, Canada's exports of wheat and wheat products to the EFTA totalled $12.9 million, while overall two-way merchandise trade was valued at $10.7 billion. Two-way investment was approximately $22 billion in 2005. Taken together, the four members of EFTA are Canada’s eighth-largest merchandise export destination.

This trip is part of a comprehensive strategy to bolster overall trade and competitiveness. Menzies led a trade mission to India earlier this year, and just recently visited the Middle East.

For further information, please contact: The office of Ted Menzies at (613) 995-8471