Readout: Minister Ng meets with United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade

January 31, 2021 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, met virtually with Liz Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade for the United Kingdom.

Minister Ng and Secretary of State Truss discussed the importance of trade between the two countries in order to ensure a continuedand sustainable global economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

They discussed the recent Canada-UK Memorandum of Understanding, signed in December 2020, which sets out each country’s commitments to ensure continued preferential tariff treatments until the Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) is ratified and implemented. Minister Ng reiterated that she looks forward to working with all Canadian parliamentarians to adopt this important legislation as soon as possible to give businesses the continuity that they need. Minister Ng stated that she looks forward to launching negotiations for a new comprehensive free trade agreement with the United Kingdom, with a focus on supporting small businesses, women, the environment, and digital trade. Minister Ng also welcomed the UK’s formal interest in acceding to the CPTPP.

Ministers Ng and Secretary Truss discussed the merit of multilateralism in trade including the work being done at the WTO. Minister Ng reiterated Canada’s interest in working with the United Kingdom at the WTO in order to advance the common interests of both countries, particularly in the areas of trade and the environment, and trade and health. Minister Ng stressed the need for multilateral cooperation in order to strengthen global supply chains and to facilitate the flow of essential medicines and medical supplies, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both agreed that they are looking forward to working together during the UK’s G7 presidency, in order to advance their shared priorities.

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Associated links

• COVID-19 and Canada’s international trade
• Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-U.K. TCA)