Minister Ng launches negotiations toward a bilateral free trade agreement with the United Kingdom
News release
March 24, 2022 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada
Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, and the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, announced they will proceed with negotiations toward a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). The first round of negotiations will begin on March 28, 2022.
Minister Ng and Secretary of State Trevelyan agreed to pursue an ambitious agreement, one that is inclusive and sustainable, and that will advance our climate goals, strengthen supply chains and help our businesses thrive by benefitting from digital trade.
Minister Ng highlighted that the negotiations are an opportunity to make sure everyone benefits from trade, including women, racialized communities, Indigenous peoples and other traditionally underrepresented groups.
During public consultations in the spring of 2021, Canadians expressed strong support for a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
Additionally, during their meeting in Ottawa, the ministers unequivocally condemned in the strongest terms President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, which is a direct challenge to the rules-based international order. They reaffirmed that Canada and the United Kingdom stands resolute against authoritarianism and with a free and democratic Ukraine.
Quotes
“I am thrilled to launch negotiations for a new benchmark agreement with the United Kingdom that will raise the bar for women, racialized people, and small businesses.”
- Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
Quick facts
-
The United Kingdom was Canada’s third-largest individual country trading partner in 2021 for both goods and services, which were valued together at $42.2 billion.
-
Canada exported $24.1 billion in goods and services to and imported $18.1 billion in goods and services from United Kingdom in 2021.
-
3,700 Canadian companies on average export goods to the United Kingdom annually. More than 92% are SMEs.
-
The United Kingdom is Canada’s second-largest individual partner, after the United States, in bilateral services trade, direct investment and science, technology and innovation partnerships. In 2019, Canada-U.K. trade in clean technology and environmental products reached $677.6 million.
-
The Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) will continue to provide certainty for Canadian and U.K. businesses and remain in place over the course of the negotiations.
-
Both the bilateral negotiations and the United Kingdom’s possible accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) present opportunities for Canada to further enhance its relationship with the United Kingdom.
-
Canada and the United Kingdom cooperate closely in multilateral forums, including the G7, G20, WTO and Ottawa Group on WTO reform, to advance common interests and promote rules-based international trade.
Related products
Associated links
- Canada’s objectives for negotiations for a Canada-U.K. FTA
- Consultation: FTA negotiations with the United Kingdom
- Notice of Intent to enter into negotiations toward a Canada-U.K. FTA
- Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement
- Doing business in the United Kingdom
- Canada and CPTPP parties agree to commence accession process with United Kingdom
- Prime Minister concludes successful visit to the United Kingdom
Contacts
Alice Hansen
Press Secretary
Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
613-612-0482
Alice.Hansen@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaTrade
Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international trade - Global Affairs Canada
Page details
- Date modified: