SANTIAGO, Nov 15, 2006 -- Chile and Canada extended their existing free trade agreement on Wednesday, said a statement of the Chilean Foreign Ministry. The document on extending the agreement was signed by Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley Rioseco and ...

Comtex Finance via NewsEdge Corporation :

SANTIAGO, Nov 15, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Chile and Canada extended their existing free trade agreement on Wednesday, said a statement of the Chilean Foreign Ministry.

The document on extending the agreement was signed by Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley Rioseco and Canadian International Trade Minister David Emerson on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum held in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, said the statement.

The new accord gives Chileans equal access as Canadians to public purchasing in Canada.

"Service providers will see the benefits of the principles of national treatment and non-discrimination... competing in equal terms with Canadian providers and commercial partners like the United States," Foxley said.

In the third quarter of 2006, Chile's exports to Canada hit 910 million U.S. dollars, a 21-percent increase compared with the same period of last year. Canada's exports to Chile also witnessed a big jump from that of last year.