Share your views: Consulting Canadians on the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP)

The Government of Canada is committed to deepening economic cooperation in our hemisphere while supporting Canadian foreign policy priorities and international development objectives in the region. As part of this commitment, Canada continues to explore opportunities for enhanced regional engagement with countries with which we enjoy shared values and strong and growing trade and investment ties, especially in the Americas.

The Government's inclusive approach to trade seeks to generate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class while advancing trade and investment opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups, such as:

• women
• Indigenous Peoples
• persons with disabilities
• youth
• 2SLGBTQI+ individuals
• racialized communities

To this end, the Government of Canada is asking for the views of the Canadian public and interested stakeholders to help define our priorities in relation to our engagement with APEP participants. We want to hear from you.

Information on the consultations

Why is Canada holding consultations on the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP)?

In line with the Government of Canada's commitment to openness and transparency, we want to hear your views, reflections and priorities in relation to APEP. Your submissions will help define Canada's interests in future negotiations. This consultation will help inform Canada's position and identify opportunities and sensitivities in the region within the APEP framework.

Please see the Canada Gazette Notice: Consulting Canadians on Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity

The Government of Canada will ensure that Canadians continue to have the opportunity to provide their views on this important initiative, including through our ongoing consultations as we engage with the Americas.

Who should participate?

We want to hear from a broad and diverse range of Canadians representative of our many interests, perspectives and priorities. This includes, but is not limited to:

• individuals
• businesses of all sizes, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
• industry associations
• experts/academics
• civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations
• labour unions
• provincial, territorial and municipal governments
• Indigenous peoples
• women's associations, 2SLGBTQI+ stakeholders and community groups representing diverse experiences
• students and youth
• other interested Canadian stakeholders

Because we seek to ensure that more Canadians have access to the benefits and opportunities that flow from regional economic cooperation, we welcome input and submissions on the potential gender, environmental and social impacts of APEP.

Related information

• Joint declaration on the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity
• Environmental assessments
• Gender-based Analysis Plus

Background

APEP is a new framework for cooperation across the Americas aiming to promote economic, sustainable and inclusive growth and integration across the region. Canada's engagement in APEP demonstrates the Government's strong commitment to the region and will be an opportunity to project Canadian values. APEP is also aligned with Canada's inclusive trade agenda.

Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Businesses and Economic Development, Mary Ng joined U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on January 27, 2023, for the launch of APEP along with representatives from 10 other countries in the Western Hemisphere. Those countries are:

• Barbados
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• the Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Mexico
• Panama
• Peru
• Uruguay

In total, APEP countries represent approximately 90 percent of the Western Hemisphere's GDP and nearly two thirds of its people.

APEP is a flexible framework, open to all countries with common values and a shared vision for a prosperous hemisphere. Canada expects participants to move quickly towards execution, beginning with preparations for future negotiations.

APEP is not a free trade agreement and is not expected to include tariff reductions or market access commitments. Nevertheless, a fully realized APEP could deliver important outcomes to improve economic resilience, strengthen supply chains, harness the digital economy, and improve environmental and labour standards.

Canada enjoys strong relationships and growing trade and investment ties in the Americas region. For example:

• Canada's bilateral merchandise trade with APEP participants (including the United States) totalled $1.0 trillion in 2022
• Canada is a founding member of the Caribbean Development Bank, and holds membership in the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Pan-American Health Organization
• Canada was the first non-Latin observer in 2012 as well as the first observer to sign a joint declaration of partnership with the Pacific Alliance
• the total value of Canada's international assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean was $1.23 billion in 2020-2021

The objectives of APEP reinforce economic cooperation in our hemisphere. APEP will help combat climate change and promote democracy, gender equality, and human rights and the rule of law. These objectives are at the core of Canada's foreign policy.

The APEP framework would:

• reinforce Canada's commitment to a progressive trade agenda
• help carry out Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy
• reduce inequalities
• promote an open, inclusive and rules-based system across the region

Related links

• Minister Ng launches public consultations on Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity
• Canada joins the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity
• Canada and the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity
• Fact sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Advances Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity
• Canada and Latin America and the Caribbean
• Canada continues to improve the socio-economic integration of migrants and refugees in Latin America
• The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)