OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Stockwell Day, Canadian Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, began a visit to Washington, D.C., on April 27 where he discussed trade issues with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

"Ambassador Kirk and I had a productive meeting on a wide range of topics," Mr. Day said. "We (iterated) our shared commitment to support trade liberalization through the World Trade Organization, N.A.F.T.A. and also through the Canada-U.S. economic relationship."

The Minister also expressed Canada's views on issues including country-of-origin labeling, "Buy American" provisions, among other things. "We agreed to maintain a high-level engagement to resolve these issues," Mr. Day said.

Mr. Day discussed the importance of reducing impediments to trade across the Canada-U.S. border. "We agreed to ensure that trade, investment, capital and services flow smoothly within North America," he added. "I also explained how Canada has successfully eliminated over 1,600 requirements previously imposed on commercial clients by the Canadian Border Services Agency."

More than $2 billion worth of goods and services and more than 300,000 people cross the Canadian/U.S. border each day. In 2008, Canadian merchandise exports to the U.S. totaled $376.3 billion and imports were $226.9 billion.