Printable Version All duties eliminated on non-agricultural imports from Canada into EFTA countries

The Canadian Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway has recently announced that the free trade agreement (FTA) with the states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland -  has received Royal Assent. The relevant regulations set out in the agreement will come into effect on 1st July 2009.

Canada’s producers and exporters will benefit immediately from the elimination of duties on all Canadian non-agricultural merchandise exports upon entry into force of the FTA. Canadian companies will also be able to access innovative technologies (including by means of imports of machinery and scientific and precision instruments) and other inputs from EFTA markets at lower costs.  

EFTA countries were Canada’s seventh-largest merchandise export destination in 2008.  Canada exported merchandise to them to the value of $4.2 billion during the same year, while total two-way trade between Canada and EFTA was valued at $13.2 billion.