UAE, Canada conclude CEPA negotiations

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Maninder Sidhu, Canadian Minister of International Trade, have announced the conclusion of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations between the two countries.

The CEPA is set to enhance the already significant bilateral trade, which reached approximately $4.2 billion in 2025 - reflecting growth of 21 per cent compared to the previous year.

Upon ratification and entry into force, the CEPA will cut tariffs, eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, and expand market access for businesses in both the UAE and Canada.

By fostering collaboration in key sectors such as, aerospace, agri-food, and seafood, the CEPA is projected to facilitate billions of dollars in trade flows into major projects, including ports, mines, LNG facilities, data centres, and critical minerals.

"Through this agreement, we are opening new horizons for the business communities of both countries, expanding investment and collaboration opportunities across priority sectors including clean energy, advanced technology, data centres, agri-food, aviation, and critical minerals - sectors where our two economies are genuinely complementary and where the potential for long-term, mutually beneficial partnership is considerable," said Dr. Al Zeyoudi.

The CEPA complements the existing UAE-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), which has already facilitated long-term partnerships between Canadian and UAE industries, attracting capital to major projects and creating jobs. This new agreement aims to further enhance these ties and support the private sectors in rapidly expanding their collaborative efforts.

"The Canada-UAE CEPA reflects the strength of our partnership that will deliver lasting benefits for businesses, workers, and communities in both countries," added Sidhu.

The UAE’s CEPA programme is a cornerstone of its foreign trade strategy and has successfully secured agreements with 38 countries since its launch in September 2021.