2: Market Access
Improve access to existing and new markets for Canadian goods and services Other Information:
Trade continues to be an engine of the global economy and its impact on Canada’s economy remains significant. Canadian reliance
on international trade, especially with the United States and major emerging markets (e.g., China, India & Brazil), has increased
over the past several years. This growth has been facilitated by the development and expansion of trade agreements at both
the international (e.g., World Trade Organization – WTO) and the regional / bi-lateral level (e.g., Free Trade Area of the
Americas – FTAA, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation – APEC, the North American Free Trade Agreement – NAFTA, Canada – Costa
Rica FTA, Canada – Chile FTA, etc.). Standardization plays a fundamental role in trade relationships, both positive (i.e.,
as an approach to meet multiple national / regulatory requirements) and negative (i.e., as a method to erect obstacles to
the free movement of goods and services). Given the relative size of the Canadian economy and the multiple relationships required
to ensure access to foreign markets, it remains crucial for the SCC and our NSS partners to be engaged at two (2) distinct,
yet closely related levels: 1. formal trade agreements (i.e., government-to-government) Canada remains committed to the prudent
usage of standards and conformity assessment measures to facilitate the reduction of technical barriers to trade (TBTs). Trade
disputes can have serious impacts on the Canadian economy and efforts must be taken to promote commonalities and work through
differences wherever possible. It is therefore crucial that the SCC nurture a healthy relationship with International Trade
Canada and through this relationship provide input into standardization-related aspects of formal trade agreements. 2. institutional
(i.e., voluntary) arrangements and schemes Canada’s participation in accreditation based-arrangements (e.g., International
Accreditation Forum – IAF, International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation – ILAC, the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation
– PAC, the Asia-Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation – APLAC and the Interamerican Accreditation Cooperation – IAAC)
and other conformity-assessment schemes (e.g., IEC Worldwide System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical
Equipment – IEC CB Scheme) remains important for the recognition and acceptance of Canadian products and services. Canadian
participation in these fora will remain important as arrangements mature, business patterns change and regulators make increasing
use of these mechanisms.
Objective(s):
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