Trade Agreements
Canada has numerous agreements in place to ease the flow of Canadian goods and services across borders. As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Canada is able to enter into trading relationships with the WTO's 153 member countries. These relationships help to lessen trade barriers and provide local businesses with access to global markets.
Canada's commitment to the WTO is reflected in the objectives identified in its Global Commerce Strategy, part of which includes strengthening Canada's international commercial network. To that end, Canada is currently engaged in free trade negotiations with Singapore, South Korea and countries in the European Union and the Caribbean.
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
Canada benefits from open, transparent and rules-based international trading systems at regional, bilateral and multinational levels. Numerous free trade agreements (FTAs) help Canadian businesses succeed by improving market access and by promoting Canadian businesses overseas. The table below, Canada's Trade Agreements, represents all of Canada's recently negotiated or active FTAs.
In addition to FTAs, the Canadian government also engages in Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (FIPAs), Air Services Agreements, and Innovation and Science and Technology (S&T) Cooperation Arrangements.
Canada's Trade Agreements
| Agreement Partners |
"In Force" Date / Status |
Link |
| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) |
1-Jan-94 |
click here |
| Canada - Panama Free Trade Agreement (FTA) |
Signed: 14-May-2010 |
click here |
| Canada - Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) |
Signed: 28-Jun-2009 |
click here |
| Canada - Columbia Free Trade Agreement |
Signed: 21-Nov- 2008 |
click here |
| Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement |
1-Aug-09 |
click here |
| Canada- European Free Trade Agreement |
1-Jul-09 |
click here |
| Canada - Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement |
1-Nov-02 |
click here |
| Canada - Chile Free Trade Agreement |
5-Jul-97 |
N/A |
| Canada- Israel Free Trade Agreement |
1-Jan-97 |
N/A |
On September 24, 2010 Minister Van Loan, Canada's Minister of International Trade and India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma, announced the public release of the results of a joint study (PDF - 3,750 KB)* on the benefits of free trade between India and Canada.
The Joint Study Group recommends that negotiations should be initiated toward a substantive and ambitious trade agreement that would help meet the mutual goal of increasing bilateral trade between Canada and India to $15 billion annually within the next five years.
Access to NAFTA Markets and the Northeastern USA
In January 1994, Canada, the United States and Mexico launched the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), forming the world's largest free trade zone. By participating in NAFTA, Canada is assured long-term access to a North American market that includes over 444 million people and a combined GDP of US $18 trillion in 2008 (Canada's International Market Access Report, 2009).
- Since 1993, Canada's annual bilateral merchandise trade with its NAFTA partners has more than doubled to reach $626 billion in 2008. That year, approximately 80% of Canada's merchandise exports went to our NAFTA partners.
- Merchandise trade flows between Canada, the United States and Mexico reached $1 trillion in 2008.
- The U.S. and Canada have the largest two-way single-nation trading relationship in the world.
- Toronto is strategically positioned close to the lucrative northeastern United States market.
To learn more about Canada's trading relationship with the United States, see "Opening Doors to North America".