The governments of Canada and the Dominican Republic have decided to postpone negotiations that would lead to the signing of a free trade agreement, in order to concentrate on discussions within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA), reports Diario Libre. Canada’s Ambassador in the Dominican Republic, Adam Blackwell, explained that they will wait to see the results of the eighth Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) ministerial meeting set for Miami, Florida on 20-21 November. He clarified that the postponement would not deter ongoing efforts to reach the targeted US$200 million in bilateral trade for this year and emphasized that Canada is currently leading in recent foreign investments in the DR, with US$2.5 billion invested from 1990 to the first half of 2002. This is 36% of a total direct foreign investment of US$7 billion registered for the period. The Canadian diplomat stressed that these successful business relations are based on the fact that the two economies’ export products and services complement each other well.