Initial Environmental Assessment on the Negotiations to Expand Product Coverage under the WTO Information Technology Agreement

The Government of Canada is participating in negotiations to expand the product coverage under the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA).  Further to the notice of intent to conduct an environmental assessment of the Modernization of the WTO ITA published in the Canada Gazette on April 6, 2013, an Initial Environmental Assessment of the negotiations to expand product coverage of the WTO ITA has now been completed by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development 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, negotiators endeavour to consider, when appropriate, potential environmental effects of trade negotiations. Environmental assessments of trade negotiations are critical to this work. This Initial Environmental Assessment seeks to consider the potential effects of new trade in Canada that may directly result from an expanded WTO ITA.

Environmental assessments of trade negotiations are prepared pursuant to the 2010 Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan, and Program Proposals.

All interested parties are invited to submit their comments on the Initial Environmental Assessment of the negotiations to expand product coverage under the WTO ITA by Friday, February 7, 2014.

Contributions can be sent by email, fax or mail to:

Environmental Assessment Consultations – Expansion of the WTO ITA Information Technology Agreement
Tariffs and Goods Market Access Division (TPG)
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
John G. Diefenbaker Building
111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1J1
Fax: 613-992-6002
E-mail: EAconsultationsEE@international.gc.ca

Related Links

• Initial Environmental Assessment on the Negotiations to Expand Product Coverage under the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA)