Canada, Chile to Sign Trade Pact

Canada and Chile will sign a free trade pact next week as a first step in bringing the South American country into the North American Free Trade Agreement, Canadian officials said. The accord will be signed by Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Chilean President Eduardo Frei, who arrives Monday in Ottawa for a three-day visit. Chile’s agreement with Canada, modeled after NAFTA, is aimed at eliminating most trade barriers between the two countries. Frei canceled a visit scheduled in early October because of last-minute disagreements over the accord.