Newfoundland and Labrador delegation headed to China for Team Canada mission

Premier Beaton Tulk is leading a delegation of ten provincial companies on the Team Canada 2001 mission to China, which is taking place from February 9-18, 2001, and is traveling to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

"Over the past number of years, Newfoundland and Labrador has maintained a constant working relationship with China. The Team Canada mission gives us a tremendous opportunity to build on this success well into the future," said Premier Tulk. "Our province has a strong contingent of local companies that are well-equipped to pursue the Chinese market and strengthen our solid trade relationship."

The ten companies from Newfoundland and Labrador and the sectors they represent are:

• Corner Brook based-businesses: Academy Canada (educational technologies and cultural industries) and Provincial Studios (photographic services);
• Marystown-based Friede Goldman Newfoundland Ltd. (transportation/marine construction);
• Mount Pearl-based BAE Newplan (transportation);
• Paradise-based Continental Marble (manufacturing technology);
• St. John�s-based companies: Canadian Iceberg Vodka (agriculture and agri-food), Newfound Resources (agriculture and agri-food), Professional Institute of Applied Technology (educational technologies and cultural industries) and Oceanic Consulting (energy/marine engineering) and;
• Seldom-based Fogo Island Co-operative Society Ltd. (agriculture and agri-food).

Industry sessions and seminars on the Chinese market, as well as a number of networking events and high profile receptions, are planned for the mission. To complement the Team Canada 2001 itinerary, the provincial government has arranged one-on-one meetings between provincial companies and their Chinese counterparts.

In 1999, China was Newfoundland and Labrador�s sixth largest export market, representing 2.79 per cent of total exports and a dollar value of more than $81 million. The main products that this province exports to China are frozen crab, iron ore, frozen shrimp, molluscs and invertebrates and seal fur skins.

In 1999, Newfoundland and Labrador imported $774,894 worth of goods from China. The province imports plastics, artificial flowers, electric lamps and many other products from China.

Team Canada 2001 is being led by the Prime Minister, who will be joined by premiers, territorial leaders and top businesses from across Canada. According to Team Canada, more than 300 business people and young entrepreneurs, heads of educational institutions and municipalities are expected to attend. The visit represents the first repeat mission for Team Canada; the last visit to China occurred in November 1994.

Media contact:
Paula Dyke
Director of Communications, Premier�s Office
709-729-3960

Jacqueline Simon
Director of Communications, Industry, Trade and Technology
709-729-0050

2001 01 30                                              1:25 p.m.

FACT SHEET- CANADA AND THE CHINESE MARKET

Total bilateral trade between Canada and China for the first eleven months of 2000 was $13.9 billion; the total is $16.4 billion if Hong Kong is included. This represents an increase of 32.3 per cent over the $10.5 billion reported for the same period in 1999.

Total bilateral trade for 1999 was $11.6 billion, an increase from $10.1 billion in 1998 and $8.7 billion in 1997. Canadian exports to China increased 3.7 per cent between 1997 and 1998, and 6.3 per cent from 1998 to 1999. Canadian imports from China increased 20.6 per cent and 16.5 per cent respectively, over the same periods.

In 1999, China was Canada�s fourth largest trading partner (combined exports and imports), climbing to third position when figures for both China and Hing Kong are combined.

Canada�s exports to China for 1999 were valued at $2.656 billion, an increase of 6.3 per cent from 1998 exports of $2.497 billion. Exports of $3.4 billion were reported for the first eleven months of 2000, a 48 per cent increase over the same period in 1999.

Growth is not only evident in commodity exports, but also in value-added sectors. Canadian autoparts exports have risen dramatically, in part due to strong initial Canadian content in General Motors� successful joint venture assembly operation.

The top four export items for 1999 were woodpulp, miscellaneous grain/seed/fruit, fertilizers and machinery.

Canadian enterprises have exported an increasing value of services to China in recent years. Canadian engineering firms, insurance companies, law firms and banks are all well-represented in China. Over 400 Canadian companies now have offices in China.

For 1999, Canada�s imports from China were valued at $8.917 billion, three per cent of Canada�s total imports. This represents an increase from $7.655 billion over the same period in 1998.

The structure of Canadian imports from China has changed over the past decade, experiencing a significant diversification that began in 1995. Imports remain primarily from light manufacturing industries, although the product composition has shifted to higher value-added goods, including consumer electronics and telecommunications equipment.

The top four Canadian import items from China are electrical machinery, toys and sports equipment, machinery and footwear.

Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade