OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will head to Peru and Colombia tomorrow and Thursday, looking to bolster trade with Latin America and beyond.
Harper last travelled to Peru in 2008 for an APEC leaders summit, but this will be his first state visit, during which he will meet with President Ollanta Humala and his cabinet.
Since a Canada-Peru free trade agreement took effect in August 2009, bilateral trade — largely in agricultural products, machinery, metals and mineral ores — has doubled to Can$4.2bn ($4.1bn).
Harper is expected to consult with Humala on bilateral and regional trade possibilities through the emerging Pacific Alliance, before he later meets with the group.
The two are set to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed free trade agreement between Australia, Brunie, Chile, Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. Japan has also expressed interest but is not yet a full negotiating partner. Harper will also attend a leaders’ summit hosted by the Pacific Alliance — comprising Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico — in Cali, Colombia, on Thursday. AFP
