Fast facts

• The European Union, with its 28 member states and a population of over 500 million, is Canada’s second-largest merchandise export market (after the U.S.).

• According to European statistics, Canada is the EU's third-largest source of foreign direct investment stocks (2010).

• At the end of 2011, the stock of Canadian direct investment in the EU totalled more than $172.5 billion.

• In 2011, Canadian merchandise exports to the EU increased by 16.1 per cent. Two-way trade in merchandise reached $92.1 billion, up from $82.4 billion in 2010.

• Canada’s top merchandise exports to the EU in 2011 were precious stones and metals, machinery and equipment, mineral fuels and oils, mineral ores and aerospace products.

• Canada’s top merchandise imports from the EU in 2011 were machinery and equipment, mineral fuels and oils, pharmaceutical products, vehicles and vehicle parts and electrical and electronic machinery and equipment.

• Taken as a whole, the EU is Canada's second-largest investor (after the U.S.), representing over 26 per cent of the stock of foreign direct investment in Canada at the end of 2011.