Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement

See also: Canada–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement

Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement

Agreement on Trade Continuity between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Canada
United Kingdom (UK)   Canada
Type	Free trade agreement
Context	Trade continuity agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom
Signed	8 December 2020
Sealed	21 November 2020
Effective	1 April 2021
Negotiators	Mary Ng Liz Truss
Parties	Canada United Kingdom
Languages	English French

The Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) is a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Canada. Discussions had been ongoing between both parties during the Brexit transition period. A deal was finally agreed upon on 21 November 2020, signed on 8 December, and entered into force on 1 April 2021. The agreement is mostly a rollover of the CETA agreement, but it paved the way to a deeper free trade agreement between Canada and the UK.^[1][2]

History

As the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union in January 2020, both the UK and Canada sought to replicate the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to avoid any disruption of trade after the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020. Negotiations for the trade agreement began at the beginning of 2020, a deal was finally agreed upon on 21 November 2020. The agreement was signed on 8 December 2020, and entered into force on 1 April 2021. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the deal as an "easy one".^[3]

Trade & Investment

The benefits locked in under the agreement reached include:

- Future zero tariffs on UK car exports to Canada, which were worth £757 million in 2019, supporting factories and jobs in communities. Without this agreement, Canada's standard tariffs on cars of 6.1% would have applied.

- Tariff-free trade on 98% of goods that can be exported to Canada including beef, fish and seafood and soft drinks. 

- UK and Canadian producers will continue to benefit from zero tariffs on many agricultural and seafood exports including chocolate, confectionery, fruit and vegetables, bread, pastries and fish. Without the continuity agreement, Canadian food products such as maple syrup, biscuits and salmon could have been more expensive for British consumers as they would have faced taxes of up to 8% when entering the UK under the UK Global Tariff.^[4]

Overall, the terms of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement are the same as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. The text of the Agreement was expected to be released once signed by both parties.

Expiration

While the main agreement remains in force, certain chapters have expired:

• The preferential access deal for British cheesemakers into Canadian markets expired on the 31 December 2023.^[5]
• From 1 April 2024, British car exporters into Canadian markets have a tariff of 6.1% if they contain significant EU components; British-origin cars require 55% UK components, increased from 50%.^[6]

See also

• Canada–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement
• Canada–United Kingdom relations
• Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
• Free trade agreements of Canada
• Free trade agreements of the European Union
• Free trade agreements of the United Kingdom
• List of Bilateral Agreements
• List of Multilateral Agreements
• UK Free Trade Agreements

References

1. "UK-Canada trade deal back in focus as talks restart". City A.M. 7 September 2020.
2. "A UK-Canada trade deal is now back on the table". The Telegraph. 14 September 2020.
3. "'Easy' UK-Canada trade deal should be secured by end of year: Trudeau". Reuters. 11 November 2020. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020.
4. "UK secures vital rollover trade deal with Canada and agrees to start negotiating more advanced deal next year". GOV.UK. 21 November 2020.
5. "UK halts talks with Canada on post-Brexit trade deal". Financial Times. 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
6. "UK car exports to Canada face 6% tariffs within days as trade dispute deepens". Financial Times. 27 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.