Canada - Colombia Free Trade Agreement
The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Labour Cooperation Agreement and the Agreement on the Environment came into force on August 15, 2011. (See News Release:Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Comes into Force )
On June 30, 2010, the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, announced that Bill C-2, the implementing legislation for the Canada-Colombia FTA, the Labour Cooperation Agreement and the Agreement on the Environment had received Royal Assent. (See News Release: Legislation to Implement Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Receives Royal Assent )
On November 21, 2008, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, signed, on behalf of Canada, the Canada-Colombia FTA. This was the third FTA signed by Canada in 2008 and Canada’s sixth FTA with a country in the Americas. At the same ceremony, Agreements on Labour Cooperation and the Environment, as well as a Double Taxation Convention were also signed between Canada and the Republic of Colombia. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, witnessed the signing of the agreements.
Background
In August 2002, the Minister of International Trade announced that Canada and the Andean Community had agreed to begin exploratory discussions towards a proposed FTA. As part of the exploratory discussions, the Minister launched extensive domestic consultations with business, citizen-based organizations and individual Canadians, as well as with the provincial and territorial governments, to obtain advice and views on priorities, objectives and concerns to help define the possible scope of this initiative. (For more information, see the Canada Gazette Notice – December 20, 2002). Consultations indicated broad support for an FTA.
Guided by the government’s commitment to pursue more bilateral free trade agreements, along with the Prime Minister’s pledge to enhance engagement throughout the Americas, the government has pursued an FTA with Colombia to further deepen its trade and investment relations.
On June 7, 2007, the Minister of International Trade announced the launch of free trade negotiations between Canada and Colombia and Peru. The Canada-Peru FTA was signed in May 2008. The Canada-Colombia FTA was signed in November 2008. Canada and Colombia enjoy good commercial and investment relations as the presence of Canadian companies, particularly in the mining, oil exploration and printing sectors, continues to grow.
In 2010, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Colombia totalled more than $1.4 billion. Canadian merchandise exports to Colombia totalled $644 million in 2010; major exports include goods such as cereals (wheat, barley), machinery, vegetables (pulses such as lentils, peas, chickpeas), paper and paperboard, and vehicles. Canadian merchandise imports from Colombia totalled $717 million in 2010. Major imports consist of mineral fuels and oils, coffee, fruits and sugar. As of 2010, the accumulated value of Canadian investment in Colombia was $824 million. This investment is primarily in the oil and gas and mining sectors, although important links also exist in the printing sector.
Bilateral Agreements
- Text of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
- Text of the Canada-Colombia Labour Cooperation Agreement
- Text of the Canada-Colombia Environment Agreement
Related Links
- An FTA with the Andean Community countries of Colombia and Peru: Qualitative Economic Analysis (June 2007)
- Initial Environmental Assessment Report – Canada-Andean Community Free Trade Negotiations (January 2008)
- Final Environment Assessment of the Canada-Colombia and Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations
Fact Sheets
Contact Point
If you have questions or comments about this free trade agreement or the environmental and labour cooperation agreements, we would like to hear from you. Please contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the following address:
Trade Negotiations Division (TPE )
Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 promenade Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2
Fax: 613-944-3489
E-mail : consultations@international.gc.ca
