OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Officials from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico met on Oct. 19 in Dallas, Texas to reaffirm their countries’ commitment to the North American Free Trade Agreement (N.A.F.T.A.), which is now in its 15th year, relayed the Government of Canada.

Stockwell Day, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, met with Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative, and Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, Mexico’s Secretary of Economy, on Oct. 19 in Dallas, Texas, to discuss N.A.F.T.A., which is now in its 15th year.

"Ambassador Kirk, Secretary Ruiz and I used this opportunity to discuss how we can make it easier to do business in North America," Mr. Day said. "In a world of increasing competition, we want to make North America even more competitive."

Since the agreement came into effect, trilateral merchandise trade has almost tripled between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, reaching $919 billion in 2008. The N.A.F.T.A. countries represent 28% of world G.D.P.

After the meeting, the ministers agreed to build on the agreement’s record of success with new and creative ways of further promoting trade and business opportunities within the region. This included directing officials to develop a work plan that includes simplifying rules in place between the three N.A.F.T.A. countries to make it easier for companies to do business.