Least Developed Countries and Elimination of Duties and Quotas
In June 2002, the Prime Minister announced that Canada would be eliminating the tariffs and quotas on most imports (with the exception of supply-managed agricultural products (dairy, poultry and eggs) from a list of 48 Least Developed Countries, effective January 1, 2003. This was further to the March 30, 2002 notice in the Canada Gazette which listed the countries and the tariff items that are not free under the Least Developed Countries Tariff for 2002. Since that announcement, interested parties have been waiting for confirmation. None has been forthcoming. As of today, there is still no official word regarding this market access issue. Of the 38 submissions received during the consultation on this issue, 26 were in favour, 8 were opposed and 4 were non-committal. The submissions contained a wide variety of recommendations, some of which may be responsible for the delay now being experienced.
