New Agricultural Market Opportunities with CETA Provisional Application in Force

For Canadian producers, CETA will mean duty-free access on 96% of EU tariff lines immediately upon the trade pact’s provisional application

CETA will improve market access for Canada while mitigating EU tariffs on over 95% of its agricultural tariff lines, meaning duty-free trade once the deal is fully implemented. The EU will then phase out tariffs on the remaining 4% of tariff lines over the next three to seven years.

“This historic agreement provides new opportunities for Canadian producers, processors and exporters,” Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food stated. “CETA will boost Canada’s agricultural trade with the world’s second-largest market, creating jobs, deepening economic relations and improving market access for Canada’s top-quality agricultural and seafood products.”

As a result the 2017 budget commits the Government to an ambitious agri-food export growth over the coming decade, while pursuing trade agreements with key global markets to help farmers grow their businesses and create good, well-paying jobs for Canadians.

Currently exports represent about half of the value of what Canadian farmers and food processors produce.

“This will solidify the future for our Ontario farmer owners and their families”

 

Value-added capacity

“CETA is a modern, progressive and landmark agreement that exemplifies our commitment to free and fair trade based on Canada’s interests and middle-class values,” added François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade. “It underlines our strong commitment to sustainable development and protects the ability of our government to regulate in the public interest.”

With yesterday’s provisional application of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union (EU), Canadian exporters now enjoy unprecedented duty-free access to the world’s largest import market for agriculture and agri-food.

Canadian industry estimates CETA will boost agriculture and agri-food exports by up to $1.5 billion annually. This historic Agreement will give the sector a competitive advantage in the EU and help Canada move towards meeting its target to grow agri-food exports to at least $75 billion annually by 2025.

“Trade is vital to our economic success in the 21st century: to job creation, to a strong middle class and to the prosperity of those working hard to join it.”