UAE, Canada Conclude CEPA Negotiations to Strengthen Trade and Investment Partnership

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada have successfully concluded negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a significant milestone in their expanding economic relationship and paving the way for enhanced trade, investment and business cooperation between the two countries.

The announcement was made in Toronto by UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu during Al Zeyoudi’s official visit to Canada, where he led a delegation of Emirati government officials and business leaders.

According to an official statement, the conclusion of negotiations represents the fastest agreement reached under the UAE’s CEPA programme since its launch in September 2021, reflecting the strong political commitment and shared ambition of both countries to deepen bilateral economic and investment ties.

The agreement is expected to further strengthen bilateral trade, which reached approximately US$4.2 billion in 2025, registering a 21 percent increase over the previous year. Once ratified and brought into force, the CEPA will reduce tariffs, eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and improve market access for businesses in both countries.

The agreement is also expected to promote cooperation in key sectors, including aerospace, agri-food, seafood, clean energy, advanced technology, aviation, data centres and critical minerals, while facilitating billions of dollars in trade and investment flows into major infrastructure projects such as ports, mines, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and digital infrastructure.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the successful conclusion of negotiations reflected the depth of the strategic partnership between the UAE and Canada and their shared commitment to building a stronger, more resilient and sustainable economic relationship.

He said the agreement demonstrated the UAE’s ability to translate high-level political engagement into tangible economic outcomes that support mutual growth and long-term prosperity.

“This agreement opens new horizons for the business communities of both countries by expanding investment and collaboration opportunities across priority sectors where our economies are highly complementary,” he said.

The CEPA will complement the existing UAE-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), which has already facilitated long-term partnerships between businesses in both countries by attracting investment, supporting major projects and creating employment opportunities.

Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu described the agreement as the fastest trade negotiation ever completed by Canada, noting that it represents an important milestone in the growing partnership between the two countries.

He said the CEPA would provide Canadian businesses with greater opportunities to use the UAE as a regional commercial hub to expand exports while encouraging increased Emirati investment in projects supporting Canada’s long-term economic development.

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

The UAE’s CEPA programme remains a cornerstone of its foreign trade strategy, with agreements concluded with 38 countries since its launch in September 2021. The initiative is designed to expand access to global markets, boost trade and investment with high-growth economies, and support the UAE’s objective of doubling the size of its economy to more than US$800 billion by 2031. The country has already surpassed US$1 trillion in total trade value, achieving the milestone six years ahead of schedule.