Canada seeks Mercosur free trade deal amid NAFTA uncertainty

February 16, 2018

The Canadian government plans to open free trade talks with the four-nation Mercosur trading bloc in South America, an official said on Friday, at a time when the future of NAFTA is facing increasing uncertainty....

Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is set to arrive in Paraguay on March 9 to launch talks with Mercosur, which also includes Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

“The stars are sort of aligning right now. Whether it’s auto parts, chemicals, lumber, sea food, this is actually a very attractive market,” said Champagne spokesman Joseph Pickerill.

Canada’s overall bilateral trade with Mercosur is only worth C$8 billion ($6.38 billion) a year, he said. Trade with the Pacific Alliance grouping of Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile - all of which have free trade deals with Canada - totals C$48 billion a year....

This was excerpted from the 16 February 2018 edition of Reuters Canada.


Accessible to: 
Everyone
Topic(s): 
Rules of Origin & Trade Agreements / Trade Agreements
Information Source: 
Canadian News Channel
Document Type: 
Email Article