October 22, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, is in Dublin, Ireland today to meet with his European Union (EU) trade counterparts to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the signature of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and to build upon its success, exploring future opportunities for Canada and the EU.

The EU is among Canada’s most trusted partners. The relationship is reinforced and driven by CETA, which delivers strong economic growth for Canadians. Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and the EU has grown by more than 78%, and trade in services has grown by nearly 90%. The EU is Canada’s second-largest global trading partner for goods and services, with two-way trade valued at approximately $178 billion in 2025. Canada’s trade with the EU has grown faster than its trade with the rest of the world. And from January to August 2026, Canada’s merchandise exports to the EU grew by almost 21%.

This visit will also set the stage for the upcoming Canada-EU Summit in Montréal, Quebec, on October 29 and 30, where Canada and the EU will strengthen their partnership.

At a CETA anniversary event in Dublin, Minister Sidhu will be joined by Maroš Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and Helen McEntee, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, to underscore CETA’s role in supporting the growing Canada-EU commercial partnership and its benefits for job creation and economic development on both sides of the Atlantic. They will focus on deepening Canada and the EU’s cooperation in economic security, supply chain resilience, clean technology, critical minerals, defence and other areas.

While in Dublin, Minister Sidhu will further engage on the CA-EU Digital Trade Agreement negotiations. A Digital Trade Agreement would help Canadian companies operating in Europe by providing improved regulatory predictability and will help to support interoperability of digital technologies and services with the EU.  

Minister Sidhu will meet with several European trade ministers to discuss strengthening trade between Canada and the EU and to explore new opportunities to support Canadian and European businesses. These representatives will include Minister McEntee; Commissioner Šefčovič; and Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Austria’s Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism.

Minister Sidhu will also meet with Anže Logar, Slovenia’s Minister of the Economy, Labour and Sport, to welcome Slovenia’s recent ratification of CETA and to highlight the strong commercial relationship between Canada and Slovenia.