Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, met for the first time with Jonathan Reynolds, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade, on the margins of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Trade in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Minister Ng congratulated Secretary Reynolds on his recent appointment and expressed Canada's keen interest in growing the extensive Canada-United Kingdom commercial relationship, including institutional partnerships in research and innovation. The economic relationship between Canada and the United Kingdom generated nearly $45 billion worth of bilateral goods and services trade in 2023.
Minister Ng and Secretary Reynolds discussed the paused negotiations between Canada and the United Kingdom on a free trade agreement. While companies continue to leverage the existing Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement, under which 99% of trade moves duty-free and quota-free, Minister Ng reiterated that Canada remains prepared to restart negotiations if the United Kingdom chooses to do so. Canada aims to work constructively toward delivering a first-class and inclusive agreement, one that would support Canadian and British industries and bolster strategic partnerships.
Minister Ng and Secretary Reynolds took this opportunity to also discuss their collaboration and shared priorities regarding Canada's chairing of the 2024 Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission. Minister Ng spoke to Canada's enthusiasm to host Secretary Reynolds and their other CPTPP counterparts at the CPTPP Commission's meeting to be held on November 27 and 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Finally, Minister Ng highlighted the importance of continuing collaboration at the World Trade Organization, including through the Ottawa Group, to strengthen and reform the organization and advance work on areas of shared interest.
