Harper announces free trade deal with Ukraine
Tags: Ukraine
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced a free trade agreement with Ukraine in yet another show of support for the troubled European country.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the PMO announced that Canada and Ukraine have “successfully concluded” free trade negotiations.
The announcement comes as Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk arrives in Canada for economic and foreign affairs talks.
The bilateral Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement will “boost commercial ties” between the two countries and create jobs, the statement said.
According to the PMO, the trade agreement will eliminate duties on nearly all current imports from the respective countries, improve market access and address non-tariff barriers.
Harper said in the statement that the trade deal is “another milestone in the important relationship” between the two countries.
Earlier Tuesday, Paul Grod, president of the Ukranian Canadian Congress, told CTV’s News Channel that amid continued strife with neighbouring Russia, Ukraine is “ripe” for investment and trade.
“Russia’s attempts to destabilize Ukraine’s economic has essentially shut down access of Ukrainian goods to the Russian market, so Ukraine is looking for new trade markets,” he said.
Grod added there are “exciting opportunities” for Canadian businesses in the areas of energy, infrastructure and IT services.
Trade between Canada and Ukraine was valued at $244 million in 2014. Canada has provided the embattled country approximately $400 million in low-interest loans since massive political upheaval began there in 2013.
During Yatsenyuk’s visit, the leaders were also expected to discuss Russian aggression in the troubled regions of Eastern Ukraine.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the PMO announced that Canada and Ukraine have “successfully concluded” free trade negotiations.
The announcement comes as Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk arrives in Canada for economic and foreign affairs talks.
The bilateral Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement will “boost commercial ties” between the two countries and create jobs, the statement said.
According to the PMO, the trade agreement will eliminate duties on nearly all current imports from the respective countries, improve market access and address non-tariff barriers.
Harper said in the statement that the trade deal is “another milestone in the important relationship” between the two countries.
Earlier Tuesday, Paul Grod, president of the Ukranian Canadian Congress, told CTV’s News Channel that amid continued strife with neighbouring Russia, Ukraine is “ripe” for investment and trade.
“Russia’s attempts to destabilize Ukraine’s economic has essentially shut down access of Ukrainian goods to the Russian market, so Ukraine is looking for new trade markets,” he said.
Grod added there are “exciting opportunities” for Canadian businesses in the areas of energy, infrastructure and IT services.
Trade between Canada and Ukraine was valued at $244 million in 2014. Canada has provided the embattled country approximately $400 million in low-interest loans since massive political upheaval began there in 2013.
During Yatsenyuk’s visit, the leaders were also expected to discuss Russian aggression in the troubled regions of Eastern Ukraine.
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