5.42. The representative of Canada reiterated her delegation's position that the TRIPS Agreement and the CBD were mutually supportive. She acknowledged the important work of WIPO in that regard, and said that WIPO remained the best forum for technical discussions – and, indeed negotiations – on genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions as they related to IP. Canada had participated actively in the February 2013 session of the IGC which had been dedicated to genetic resources. Canada welcomed the progress achieved at that meeting where Members had been able to further delineate the various options for the protection of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. Canada was fully committed to the WIPO IGC and looked forward to continuing to work with all WIPO member states towards bridging differences in hope of reaching agreement on a quality outcome that could garner the consensus it needed to be successful.
