Expand your business with the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Advantages and opportunities of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) for expansion in countries throughout the European Union (EU):

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

Under CETA, 99% of EU tariff lines are duty-free, giving Canadian businesses preferential access to a major market. This market includes over 448 million consumers across 27 countries, making it the second largest in the world.

CETA allows Canadian suppliers to bid on EU government contracts on equal terms with European competitors. These opportunities are available at all levels of EU governments, including national, regional, and local. 

There are CETA-covered procurement opportunities at all levels of EU governments, including governments of EU member states as well as regional and local governments.  

CETA’s provisions set requirements for investment, professional certification, and other areas of activity. This translates to greater certainty, transparency, and protection for Canadian businesses. CETA also includes provisions for labour rights and environmental protection.

CETA makes it easier to move goods and businesspeople across borders through:

• Temporary entry provisions for certain businesspersons and qualified professionals address common barriers encountered at the border, such as labour market tests. They also provide more transparency and predictability when entering the market for business purposes.
• Customs facilitation that reduces processing times at the border and makes the movement of goods cheaper and more efficient.
• Regulatory cooperation provisions, including the dedicated Regulatory Cooperation Forum (RCF), meant to facilitate and promote regulatory cooperation. The RCF provides a forum for regulators to discuss regulatory policy issues of mutual interest. How to get involved:
  • suggest topics for cooperation by sending an email to: rcd-dcmr@tbs-sct.gc.ca
  • report a regulatory barrier

Explore essential tools to help you navigate CETA and other FTAs.

• The CETA website offers comprehensive information on the agreement, including chapter summaries and milestones. Consult the guides to temporary entry under CETA for the European Union to find common steps and useful resources on entry into these markets for business purposes.
• Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) is an online database featuring public procurement opportunities in the EU
• The Exporting to the EU guide provides an overview of regulatory requirements in the EU
• The Exporting services to the EU guide offers practical information to answer your questions and help you identify business opportunities in the EU
•  The Canada Tariff Finder provides information for your specific products in countries where Canada has a free trade agreement.
• The Global Bid Opportunity Finder provides global public sector bid opportunities in foreign markets.
• The Rules of Origin Facilitator enables you to find import duties in foreign markets, available duty savings, detailed rules of origin, and certification procedures, for your specific products.
• Search by country to explore business opportunities in CETA member countries.

Get a clear view of how the CETA can help your business grow and learn to make the most of the FTA by watching the videos below.

• Preferential tariffs under CETA
• Rules of origin under CETA
• Temporary entry under CETA
• Government procurement under CETA
• Success story: CETA makes EU sales possible for this small business

Do you have questions about technical barriers to trade and/or a regulation under one of Canada's Free Trade Agreements? Write to Global Affairs Canada at consultations@international.gc.ca.