UAE-Canada pact to ease cross-border trade

The UAE and Canada have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to reduce trade barriers and improve market access, with potential to increase demand for logistics services and cross-border freight. The deal aims to support businesses trading between the two countries and encourage investment in sectors including logistics, manufacturing and advanced technology.

The agreement will reduce or remove tariffs on more than 99% of current Canadian exports to the UAE. It will also address non-tariff barriers and make trade rules more predictable for exporters and importers.

For logistics operators, increased trade could create opportunities in freight forwarding, warehousing, customs clearance and transport as businesses move more goods between the two markets. The UAE is Canada’s largest export market in the Middle East, with two-way trade reaching C$3.5 billion last year.

UAE Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said: “We see considerable potential for our private sector, whether through improved market access for our exporters or access to investment opportunities in high-growth sectors such as logistics, communications, advanced technology and manufacturing.”

The agreement is expected to take effect in 2027, subject to ratification by Canada’s Parliament.