Address by the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

Speech

Launch of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP)

January 27, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

Hello Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Tai, and my Ministerial colleagues from across the Americas! It’s terrific to be here today on behalf of Canada at the launch of the Americas’ Partnership for Economic Prosperity.

APEP represents a unique opportunity for all of our countries to come together to advance our mutual interests and our region’s economic prosperity.

The events of the last few years have had disruptive impacts on our economies and global trade – first, with the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently with Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Supply chains have been stressed, energy prices have increased, and food security concerns exacerbated.

Because of these challenges, now is precisely the right time to be doing more, together. As friends, and as partners in the same hemisphere. APEP is the vehicle to do exactly that. It aims to deliver tangible benefits that promote inclusive prosperity and sustainable development in our region. Its bold ideas and clear calls to action advance and deepen our shared visions of democracy, development and prosperity.

That’s why Canada is pleased to support this initiative. Working together will help us to advance our economies in a way that encourages human rights, economic development, transparent governance, and eradicates forced labour.

With its focus on inclusive trade, multilateral investment, and anti-corruption measures, the Declaration seeks to strengthen the diversity, sustainability, and resilience of our supply chains by expanding regional trade ties, especially those related to the flow of critical minerals, food, clean energy, and vaccines.

In particular, we are pleased that the Joint Declaration recognizes the importance of eliminating poverty, reducing inequality, and distributing the benefits of growth far and wide, especially to the middle and working classes.

Importantly, it seeks to reduce systemic barriers that keep women, young people, small business owners, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities and other entrepreneurs who have been traditionally under-represented in global trade from participating in our shared economic recovery. These goals align with Canada’s trade diversification strategy.

I know that Canada is not alone in its conviction that we must first and foremost ensure the wellbeing of our people. That means protecting and improving access to education, health and nutrition, social safeguards and public infrastructure. It also means creating good jobs and protecting our environment and our world for future generations.

Here again, this Partnership’s commitment to an ambitious agenda of sustainable economic growth and hemispheric resilience is the right way forward.

Because when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. That’s why Canada believes it is imperative that we work together to make our economies more inclusive, sustainable, and positioned to benefit all of our people, now and in the future.

Thank you. Merci.