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Join the discussion: consulting Canadians on possible free trade agreement negotiations with Ecuador

Current status : Closed

This consultation ran from January 6, 2023 to February 21, 2023.

In line with Canada's trade strategy, the Government of Canada remains committed to deepening economic cooperation in our hemisphere. As part of this commitment, Canada continues to explore opportunities for enhanced regional engagement with markets with which we enjoy strong and growing trade and investment ties, such as Ecuador.

The Government's inclusive approach to trade seeks to advance trade and investment opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups, such as women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, youth, 2SLGBTQI+, and racialized communities, while seeking to generate economic growth, create jobs and strengthen the middle class.

To this end, the Government of Canada is soliciting the views of the Canadian public and interested stakeholders to help define our priorities in relation to potential future trade negotiations with Ecuador.

We want to hear from you.

Information on the consultations

Why is Canada holding consultations on a possible Canada-Ecuador free trade agreement?

In line with the Government of Canada's commitment to openness and transparency, we want to hear your views, reflections and priorities in relation to a possible free trade agreement (FTA) with Ecuador. Submissions received will help define Canada's interests in a possible Canada-Ecuador FTA. These consultations will help to identify commercial opportunities and market access interests for Canadian goods and services, as well as opportunities to improve regulatory predictability and increase transparency for Canadian businesses.  These consultations will also highlight any other opportunities or sensitivities for Canada vis-à-vis Ecuador including with respect to labour, environmental and inclusive trade elements of a possible FTA.

How to participate

The Government of Canada is seeking input from diverse Canadian voices from coast to coast. There are a variety of ways you can participate in these consultations. You can provide a written submission in response to Canada Gazette Notice until February 21, 2023, using one of these options:

Please read the privacy notice statement carefully prior to sending a written submission. When providing your personal opinion(s), we ask that you refrain from including the personal information of other individuals.

The Government of Canada will ensure that Canadians continue to have the opportunity to provide their views on this important initiative, including through our ongoing consultations as we engage with Ecuador.

Who should participate?

We want to hear from a broad and diverse range of Canadians representative of our many interests, perspectives and priorities. This includes, but is not limited to:

Because we seek to ensure that more Canadians have access to the benefits and opportunities that flow from international trade and investment, we welcome input and submissions on the potential gender, environmental and social impacts of launching FTA negotiations with Ecuador.

What we heard

Related information

Background

While Canada continues to deepen engagement across the Americas region, we are also exploring opportunities to advance commercial relations bilaterally. To this end, Canada is exploring the possibility of an FTA with Ecuador.

Canada and Ecuador enjoy strong bilateral relations supported by growing trade and investment ties between our countries. In 2021, total bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Ecuador was $953 million. Canadian exports to Ecuador totalled $573.3 million (an increase of 45.3% from 2020), led by farm, fishing and intermediate products, energy products and industrial machinery, as well as equipment and parts. Imports totalled $379.7 million, led by farm, fishing and intermediate products, consumer goods, and metal ores and non-metallic minerals. As of 2021, Canada had the largest stock of foreign direct investment in Ecuador at $3.7 billion, led by investments in Ecuador's mining sector.

Building off this significant growth in bilateral commercial relations, on November 24, 2022, the Honourable Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, and Ecuadorian Minister for Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries, Julio José Prado, met in Mexico City and announced the launch of exploratory discussions toward a potential Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement.

An FTA would demonstrate Canada's commitment to its bilateral relations with Ecuador and benefit importers and exporters of goods and services, investors and consumers, by improving bilateral market access and enhancing the transparency and predictability of our trading and investment environment. Such an agreement would also demonstrate Canada's commitment to reinforcing economic cooperation in our hemisphere, complement concurrent trade policy engagement within the region, and promote an open, inclusive and rules-based international trading system.

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