Notice of Intent to Conduct an Environmental Assessment of the Modernization of the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement

Closing date:  March 28, 2012

On August 11, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the launch of negotiations to modernize the existing Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement. (See News Release: PM announces measures to strengthen Canada's engagement with Costa Rica ). 

The Government of Canada is now conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) to inform these negotiations. Comments are invited on any likely and significant environmental impacts which this prospective modernized FTA may have on Canada.

The Government of Canada is committed to sustainable development. Mutually supportive trade, investment and environmental policies can contribute to this objective. To this end, the Minister of International Trade has directed negotiators to improve their understanding of, and information based on the relationship between trade and environmental issues at the earliest stages of decision making, and to do this through an open and inclusive process. Environmental assessments of trade negotiations are critical to this work.

This process is guided by the Framework for Conducting Environmental Assessments of Trade Negotiations and with direction from the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan, and Program Proposals.

For more information, please visit:

• Canada Gazette Notice – January 28, 2012
• Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement

All interested parties are invited to submit their views on any likely and significant environmental impacts on Canada resulting from the prospective modernization of the Canada-Costa Rica FTA by March 28, 2012.
Contributions can be sent by email, fax or mail to:

Environmental Assessments of Trade Agreements
Trade Agreements and NAFTA Secretariat
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
Fax: (613) 992-9392
E-mail: EAconsultationsEE@international.gc.ca