Canada has a long history of supporting cultural diversity in the debate over the place of culture in international trade agreements.
Cultural products are fundamental to our sense of Canadian identity and community.
That means that the Government must promote the Canadian cultural sector at home and abroad while affording Canadians the benefits of trade liberalization. Canada is committed to building international support for a 'New International Instrument on Cultural Diversity', as indicated in the Government's responses to recent reports by both the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The purpose of this instrument is to set out clear ground rules to enable Canada and other countries to maintain policies that promote their culture while respecting the rules governing the international trading system and ensuring markets for cultural exports. This new instrument would also recognize the importance of cultural diversity to international social and economic development. In addition, the importance of cultural diversity has been flagged by Canada as an important issue for the WTO and its Members.