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Canada-United Kingdom relations

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Bilateral relations

Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) have a profound, wide-ranging and positive relationship.

Political relations

Canada and the UK share a sovereign, His Majesty King Charles III, and are among the oldest parliamentary democracies in the world. The relationship between our two countries continues a long tradition of strategic partnership. We fought alongside one another in two world wars and in nearly every major conflict for more than a century. In recent years, Canada and the UK have placed a high priority on our security relationship, which includes military, law enforcement, and intelligence cooperation.

Canada and the UK work closely together in many international organizations. Ours are the only two countries that are members of NATO, the G7, the G20, and the Commonwealth. Through the United Nations, World Bank, and other organizations, Canada and the UK continue to promote our shared values and commitment to international development. We work very closely in areas like gender equality, health, and education.

Our two countries also work closely together to address global threats, such as climate change, and to respond to international security challenges around the world.  

Canada and the UK support people around the world who are seeking to build inclusive and stable societies, underpinned by democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Canada and the UK also work to safeguard our mutual prosperity. We work together to promote global efforts to ensure strong, sustainable and balanced growth, sound fiscal management, healthy financial sectors and regulatory systems, and open markets. Our two countries aim to improve global economic conditions so that free and fair international trade and investment can thrive.

Commercial and economic relations

Canada and the United Kingdom enjoy a long and robust commercial relationship.

The United Kingdom was Canada’s third-largest single-country trading partner for goods and services in 2022, with trade valued at $46.5 billion. Around 3,700 Canadian companies—more than 93% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises—export goods to the United Kingdom.

The UK is an important source of foreign direct investment for Canada, ranking second after the United States on the ultimate investing country basis. There are more than 1,000 UK affiliates that have a presence in Canada and that contribute to our economy. The UK is Canada's second most important destination for investment abroad. Canada and the UK also have strong partnerships in science, technology and innovation, with thriving networks of researchers, universities and R&D-intensive companies. To strengthen these links further, Canada and the UK signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Science, Technology, and Innovation in 2017. This agreement has helped accelerate collaboration and commercialization in areas such as agri-tech, advanced manufacturing, smart-grids, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and polar research. Looking forward, we will continue to focus efforts on areas of mutual strategic priority including health, achieving net zero and emerging digital technologies.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union (i.e. Brexit), the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement, based on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), entered into force on April 1, 2021. This interim agreement will be in place as Canada and the UK work towards negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement. The Trade Continuity Agreement preserves preferential market access, based on CETA, for both Canadian and UK businesses.

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Defence and security

Defence

Canada and the UK enjoy a close-knit and multifaceted defence partnership that dates back several centuries. The Canadian Forces were originally modelled on the British, and we share many traditions, values, and beliefs.

Our shared history and ties, forged on the battlefield during two world wars, have laid the groundwork for the solid defence relationship we enjoy today. The Canadian and UK defence ministries maintain close working relations at all levels, both bilaterally and multilaterally through NATO membership, participation in UN peacekeeping operations and other multinational military activities. In recent years, our defence ministries have worked closely with international allies on conflicts across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

Defence cooperation is also evident in many other activities. Canadian and British personnel serve on reciprocal exchange and professional development programs. Specialized elements of Canadian military training are conducted in the UK to take advantage of their expertise and to share and solidify best practices. Our common operational experience and challenges have led to ongoing information sharing and cooperation between our navies, air forces and armies.

The UK is one the top export destinations for Canadian defence products and services. The UK ranks second to the US in terms of international cooperation in defence science and technology.

Security

Canada and the UK place a high priority on our bilateral and multilateral security relationship, including as part of NATO and Five Eyes. This includes intensive military, law enforcement, and intelligence co-operation. This partnership provides a broad and mutually beneficial level of information exchange on the widest possible range of global security issues and challenges. As members of the Five Eyes Intelligence Community, Canada and the UK work closely to ensure our mutual national security.

Today, our joint efforts are an important element in the campaign against international terrorism and in the promotion of democracy, the freedom of speech/media, and human rights. Canada and the UK also stand united in the fight against arbitrary detentions and coercive diplomacy.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and the United Kingdom work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

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