Canada's
Changing Geography of Jobs and Trade
Canada's Changing Geography of Jobs and
Trade
by David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin
America & Africa)
October
1997
In recent
years, we have all been continually reminded
about "globalization" -- the tendency
for our lives to be affected by events outside
our national boundaries. It is becoming harder
to differentiate between "foreign"
and "national" issues. More and
more, they are blurred.
Jobs for
Canadians of all ages depend on our ability
to penetrate global markets as well as to
face successfully competitive challenges
from abroad.
Canadians
in the past tended to focus on Europe; more
recently, we turned our attention to the
Asia Pacific as a major locus of global
economic growth. Today we are also turning
our attention elsewhere.
Latin America
As Secretary of State for Latin America
and Africa, I am excited to be dealing with
two regions of the globe that are assuming
a much greater profile in Canada's international
relations. In Latin America, we are solidifying
our trading relationship with Mexico under
NAFTA. A new bilateral trade agreement is
in place with Chile. We await further developments
with other countries of Latin America and
the Caribbean that should lead up to the
Free Trade Area of the Americas after the
year 2005.
More and
more Canadians from business, organizations,
and government are travelling to Latin America
to meet our neighbours -- ones who have
for too long been viewed as distant strangers.
They are finding that along with the new
business relationships comes a shared sense
of community -- a set of concerns, responsibilities,
and interests that go beyond the mere exchange
of goods and services.
The Mexican
writer Carlos Fuentes wrote: "Every
North American, before this century is over,
will find that he or she has a personal
frontier with Latin America. This is a living
frontier, which can be nourished by information
but, above all, by knowledge, by understanding,
by the pursuit of enlightened self interest
on both parts."
Creating
a free trade area of the Americas, and doubling
Canadian exports of services and products
to the region by the year 2000 are key goals
of Canada's relations with Latin America.
But as neighbours concerned about our community,
our relationship cannot stop at dollars
and pesos. A healthy trading relationship
cannot exist unless Canada is also committed
to regional stability.
Africa
Africa, which has long been hampered by
poverty and political problems, is also
assuming a greater importance in Canadian
trade -- especially since the end of apartheid
in South Africa. Africa was, for example,
the province of Alberta's fastest growing
export market from 1994 to 1995, with Alberta
exports to the continent growing by 68 per
cent to $238 million.
Alberta’s
annual exports to the Latin American, Caribbean
and African countries already exceed three
quarters of a billion dollars. The biggest
news though is not our current trade, but
rather the enormous potential for these
exports to grow in coming years. Currently
the bulk of exports from Alberta to Mexico,
Central America and the Caribbean is made
up of primary agricultural products, while
mining products such as sulphur and coal
are that province’s leading exports
to South America.
The export
of raw agricultural and mineral products
should be encouraged to continue and grow.
But Canadians have much more to offer in
exports to Latin America and Africa. We
are leaders in such areas as petroleum,
mining, and environmental technologies.
We have expertise to sell in telecommunications,
transportation, and problem solving in many
resource and agricultural-related fields.
Already Canadian technology and expertise
is making a mark in the region. Together
with International Trade Minister Sergio
Marchi, I'll bc working to expand those
opportunities, and assist Canadians in finding
new markets.
|
