RIYADH: Bilateral trade between the UAE and Canada is set to receive a boost through lower tariffs and improved market access after the two countries concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The CEPA is set to enhance the already significant bilateral trade, which reached approximately $4.2 billion in 2025, reflecting 21 percent growth compared with the previous year, according to a UAE government statement.
The negotiations, which began only last month, were completed in record time, making the agreement the fastest concluded under the UAE’s CEPA program.
The deal adds to the UAE’s broader strategy of expanding trade through bilateral agreements as it seeks to diversify its economy beyond oil. Since launching its CEPA program in September 2021, the UAE has concluded agreements with 38 countries and surpassed $1 trillion in total trade six years ahead of schedule, supporting its goal of more than doubling the size of its economy to over $800 billion by 2031.
Once ratified and implemented, the agreement will reduce tariffs, lower trade barriers and expand market access for businesses in both countries, while creating new opportunities in sectors including clean energy, advanced technology, data centers, aviation, agri-food and critical minerals.
