Ministers representing the federal, provincial and territorial governments have concluded negotiations on a new Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) that will help to expand Canadian businesses and increase economic growth across the country.
Under the direction of Canada’s Premiers and the federal government, the initiative to strengthen and modernize internal trade was launched in December 2014.
The CFTA will take effect July 1st 2017, and will reduce barriers to trade, investment, and worker mobility. It will increase choice for consumers, expand access to government contracts, and create more jobs for Canadians. It includes rules that open trade in goods and services, processes that reduce differences in regulations and standards, and provisions that increase access to billions of dollars in government procurement opportunities for Canadian businesses. The agreement also establishes new processes to liberalize domestic trade in areas such as alcoholic beverages and financial services.
These improvements to the Canadian market will create new opportunities for businesses to innovate and grow at home, while helping to strengthen their competitive position internationally.
For the full release from the Internal Trade Secretariat, please visit here.
For full details of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, please visit the Government of Canada’s website here.