This week, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, participated in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Annual Ministers’ Meeting in San Francisco, California.

While at APEC, Minister Ng highlighted Canada’s commitment to deepen its engagement across the Indo-Pacific by continuing to work closely with APEC economies to ensure strong, sustainable, and inclusive growth that creates good jobs and opportunities for businesses on both sides of the Pacific.

During a US-hosted session on economic prosperity and resiliency, Minister Ng underscored the importance of supporting a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. She encouraged APEC partners to work towards ambitious outcomes at the upcoming WTO 13th Ministerial Conference.

Minister Ng also discussed solutions to strengthen resilient global supply chains and build a green and sustainable future during a roundtable with key business leaders from Canada and San Francisco. She advanced discussions on trade and investment to support Canada’s economic growth, including finding opportunities for Canadian businesses in key sectors including clean technology, critical minerals, and agricultural exports.

Minister Ng attended a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Business Dialogue event where CPTPP members engaged with businesses from CPTPP economies, to get their perspective on the Agreement and ensure it is properly benefitting businesses. She also attended the CPTPP Ministers Breakfast, where members endorsed a Joint Ministerial Statement as well as the Terms of Reference for the CPTPP General Review, a process meant to assess and improve the implementation and effective functioning of the Agreement. As the 2024 CPTPP Commission Chair, Minister Ng took the opportunity to emphasize Canada’s commitment to ensuring the Agreement remains the most high-standard and ambitious trading platform in the region by proposing three priorities for the year ahead: ensuring this agreement reaches its full potential; leading with our values; and expanding our geopolitical influence.

This is an excerpt from the 16 November 2023 news release from Global Affairs Canada.