Canada-Latvia relations
Canada’s areas of action
Bilateral relationship
Canada and Latvia enjoy an excellent relationship. Bilateral meetings and exchanges take place on a regular and ongoing basis. Canada did not recognize the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States and was the first G7 country to recognize the restoration of Latvia's independence in 1991.
Canada is represented in Latvia by an Embassy in Riga. Latvia is represented in Canada by an Embassy in Ottawa. Latvia also has Honorary Consulates in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.
Trade relationship
Canada and Latvia enjoy a mutually beneficial trade and investment relationship. In February 2018, Latvia became the first EU Member State to ratify the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Strategic Partnership Agreement. Bilateral trade between Canada and Latvia totalled almost $783 million in 2018 with nearly $734 million in exports and almost $49 million in imports from Latvia.
Trade and investment agreements
Trade and investment agreements involving Canada and Latvia:
- Canada-European Union: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
- Canada-Latvia Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
- World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA)
- Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
- Agreement on Trade-related Investment Measures (TRIMS)
- General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT)
- General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
- World Trade Organization Information Technology Agreement (ITA)
World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA).
Operations
Canada was one of the first countries to ratify Latvia's accession to NATO in 2004. NATO has established an enhanced Forward Presence of multinational NATO battlegroups deployed in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. Through Operation REASSURANCE, Canada is leading the deployment in Latvia as Framework Nation, contributing 450 troops.
The Canadian Armed Forces also train and exercise side-by-side with their Latvian counterparts, and contribute personnel to the NATO Force Integration Unit in Latvia.
Partners and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Latvia work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- European Union
- La Francophonie
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Open Government Partnership (OGP)
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
