Canada-Peru Relations

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Canada’s first Ambassador to Peru, Jean-François Léon Henri Laureys, presented his credentials on October 21, 1944.

In Peru, Canada is represented by the Embassy of Canada in Lima.

Peru is represented in Canada by an Embassy in Ottawa. Peru also has consulates in Calgary, Montréal, Québec City, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

Canada and Peru have warm and growing bilateral relations. During bilateral consultations held in December 2009 the two countries discussed increasing cooperation in a number of areas.

President Alan García took office following elections on June 4, 2006. This is the second term for President García, who also served as President during 1985-1990. His government is focusing its foreign policy on deepening Peru’s existing political and economic links in the Americas while enhancing democratic institutions at home.

Peru is an important partner for Canada in promoting democracy, security and prosperity in the hemisphere. Canada and Peru work together closely in regional and multilateral organizations, the United Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). With regards to the Organization of American States (OAS), Peru has been a strong supporter of the adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter (adopted in Lima in September 2001) and will host the OAS General Assembly in June 2010. Canada and Peru are both members of the Group of Friends of Haiti. To demonstrate Peru’s commitment to help rebuild Haiti after it was hit by a devastating earthquake in January 2010, Peruvian Foreign Minister García Belaunde attended the Ministerial Preparatory Conference on Haiti on January 25, 2010 in Montreal.

http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/haiti_reconstruction_haiti.aspx?lang=eng 

In an effort to ensure that the benefits of economic growth reach all sectors of Peruvian society, Canada is working closely with Peru to promote corporate social responsibility practices in key mining communities. Canada and Peru also cooperate on good governance initiatives and on efforts to combat drug smuggling. Canada has long supported key institutions of Peruvian democracy such as the Office of the Ombudsperson (Defensoría del Pueblo).

Since 1968, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has managed a bilateral development program in Peru. Peru has recently been identified as one of the 20 countries of focus for Canada’s development assistance. In 2007-2008, through bilateral, multilateral and partnership programs, Canadian development assistance to Peru totalled close to $20 million.

In August 2009, the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement and parallel agreements on labour cooperation and the environment entered into force, enhancing a trade relationship that has grown substantially over the years. Peru is now Canada’s 2nd largest bilateral trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico). Bilateral merchandise trade reached more than $2.8 billion in 2008. Merchandise exports to Peru in 2008 totalled $380.7 million and included cereals, machinery, paper and paperboard, electrical and electronic machinery and vegetables. Canadian merchandise imports from Peru were nearly $2.5 billion in 2008 and included precious stones and metals, mineral fuels and oils, mineral ores, fats and oils, and tin.

February 2010

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