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Monday, June 5, 2017 
Foreign Minister Muñoz signs Free Trade Agreement Modernization with Canada during the State Visit of President Michelle Bachelet
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During the State visit of President Michelle Bachelet to Canada, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, along with Minister of International Trade, Francois-Philippe Champagne, signed two Amending Agreements that modernize the 20-year-old Free Trade Agreement with Canada. President Bachelet and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau chaired the signing ceremony.

The first agreement includes three chapters. One on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, establishing standards and parameters to regulate; the second chapter on Technical Obstacles for Trade that will allow trade flow; and a third chapter introducing changes in public buys.

The second agreement contains modifications in the investments chapter and includes a new chapter on gender. This chapter will "give businesswoman an important role in the Chile-Canada relationship" explained Minister Muñoz.

The FTA between Chile and Canada entered into force in 1997 and has had a 5,6% average annual growth rate in their bilateral trade. Furthermore, Canada is the fourth major investor in Chile (it is the second destination of Canadian investment in Latin America and the Caribbean after Mexico) with a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of 14.297 million dollars between 1974 and 2015, according to the Chilean Central Bank. Canada is the first investor in the mining sector, then in the electricity, gas, water services, and chemical industry. The Chilean investment in Canada is mainly in the mining and industrial sector.

Additionally to the signing of this agreements, the State visit seeks to strengthen the 75 or more years of relationship with this country in areas of education, science, technology, innovation, environment, and gender equality.

Today's session began with a meeting held by President Bachelet with Governor General of Canada and Representative of Her Majesty the Queen, David Johnston. During the encounter, the Head of State was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz; Minister for the Environment, Marcelo Mena; Ambassador of Chile to Canada, Alejandro Marisio; and General Director of International Economic Affairs, Paulina Nazal. The State visit concludes tomorrow in Toronto.

In the afternoon, President Bachelet led a forum organized by the Chilean Embassy and the NGO Equal Voice on diversity and inclusion in the private and public sectors in Chile and Canada. Various organizations participated in the roundtable, such as Canadian Women´s Foundation, Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, Global Centre for Pluralism, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, and National Council of Muslim Canadians.