The Ecuadorian delegation, which is in Ottawa, includes officials from the Secretariat for the Management and Development of Peoples and Nationalities.

Since Monday, December 9, Ecuador has been negotiating the fifth round of meetings to reach the signing of a trade agreement with Canada. This time, it is doing so with its negotiating team in person in Ottawa, Canada, where the talks will last until Friday, December 13, 2024.

The delegation of Ecuadorian negotiators and officials from relevant technical institutions arrived in Ottawa with the aim of advancing discussions and closing several chapters of the agreement.

Throughout the week of negotiations, various disciplines will be addressed, including market access, cross-border trade in services, investments, public companies, rules and procedures of origin, financial services, environment, technical barriers to trade, labor, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and indigenous peoples, reported the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries.

In addition, on this occasion the process will include the participation of officials from the Secretariat for Management and Development of Peoples and Nationalities, who will accompany the Ecuadorian delegation in the negotiation of the chapter on the rights and inclusion of indigenous peoples in the agreement.

This approach underlines the commitment of both countries to social inclusion and the protection of indigenous communities within the trade framework.

"This round will allow progress towards the closing of several chapters, bringing Ecuador and Canada closer to an agreement that benefits both nations and their respective peoples. Likewise, this trade process reaffirms Ecuador's desire to strengthen its relationship and promote greater economic integration with the American continent," the ministry said.

The fourth round of negotiations took place in person in Quito, from October 21 to 25. For the development of this round, Ecuador received a delegation of 40 Canadian negotiators.