SASKATCHEWAN TO HOST 2000 TRI-NATIONAL ACCORD MEETING

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Minister Eric Upshall today

announced that Saskatchewan has been selected to host the Tri-National

Accord meeting in July 2000.



The Tri-National Accord is a consultative group made up of Canadian

Provincial Ministers of Agriculture, the Board of Directors of the

United States National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

and the Board of Directors of the Association of Mexican State

Departments of Agriculture.



"The annual accord meeting provides an excellent opportunity for

provinces to undertake discussions on a variety of important trade

issues affecting each of the North American trading partners," Upshall

said. "Greater understanding of the issues helps to diminish

irritants that restrict future trade involving Canada, the U.S. and

Mexico.



"Trade is important to Saskatchewan because we export 80 per cent of

our agricultural production. The annual accord meeting provides the

participants at the provincial and state government level the

opportunity to address agricultural trade issues of mutual interest."



This year's Tri-National Accord meeting is to be held in Salt

Lake City, Utah, July 15-17. Dates and location for the 2000

Tri-National Accord meeting in Saskatchewan will be determined

later this summer.



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For more information, contact:



Rick Burton

Agriculture and Food

Regina

306-787-5882