Harper Government Highlights Benefits to Nova Scotia of Canada's Pro-trade Plan

News Release

Minister Fast says deeper trade with Europe will create jobs and opportunities for Nova Scotians

April 24, 2014 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today held a round table in Halifax with more than a dozen leaders from the local fish and seafood industry to highlight the many benefits the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement and especially the Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement will bring to businesses and workers in Nova Scotia.

Minister Fast announced that jointly with the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, he will lead a trade mission to the European Seafood Exposition, the world’s largest seafood fair, to be held from May 6 to 8, 2014, in Brussels, Belgium.

The Canada-EU trade agreement will provide tariff-free access to the EU, the world’s largest importer of fish and seafood, with a global import market averaging $25 billion annually. Nova Scotia’s world-class fish and seafood industry stands to benefit significantly from preferred access to the EU.

Quick Facts

Nova Scotia’s fish and seafood industry is one of the leading exporters of seafood in Canada and employs more than 9,000 Nova Scotians.
Nova Scotia’s fish and seafood exports to the EU were worth an average of $142.6 million annually between 2010 and 2012, making this sector the largest source of Nova Scotia’s exports to the EU.
The European Seafood Exposition attracts buyers and sellers from over 140 countries around the world and features over 1,600 exhibitors, including some 40 exhibitors from Canada.

Quotes

“The Canada-EU free trade agreement will provide great benefits to Nova Scotia’s world-famous fish and seafood industry, by eliminating all tariffs on its key exports. This will generate massive benefits for the fish and seafood sector, a key driver of Nova Scotia’s economy.”

Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

“The free trade agreements to eliminate tariffs will seriously open up the markets. I very much applaud the efforts of government to reduce trade barriers.”

Nathan Blades, Quality Controller, Sable Fish Packers Ltd., and President, Nova Scotia Fish Packers Association

“As a harvester, I support the Canada-EU trade agreement on the basis that it will improve marketing conditions and offer a boost to our industry. Given the number of people the fish and seafood industry employs on the Eastern Shore, this is a welcome development for the industry and those that depend on it.”

Peter Connors, President, Eastern Shore Fisherman’s Protective Association

“With this agreement, we’re in a very good spot for other countries to see the value of our product.”

Dannie Hansen, Development Manager, Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd.

“For too many of our products, high tariffs have kept us from being competitive on the global stage. The Canada-EU agreement is a game changer for our sector, which is why the Lobster Council of Canada is eager to see CETA ratified as quickly as possible. Once ratified, exporters will have enhanced access to the largest and most lucrative market in the world, therefore ensuring the long-term prosperity of our industry and the thousands of people it employs in Atlantic Canada.”

Geoff Irvine, Executive Director, Lobster Council of Canada

“A trade agreement with the European Union will finally give businesses on the East Coast a level playing field on which to expand, compete and invest for growth that will benefit workers. We are eagerly awaiting this agreement to be ratified in an effort to strengthen the transatlantic ties that make our economies stronger.”

Ian D. Smith, CEO, Clearwater Seafoods Ltd.

“We see real opportunity with CETA agreement and opportunity for us to become a true cargo hub for Canada.”

Jerry Staples, Vice President, Air Service Marketing and Development, Halifax International Airport Authority

Associated Links

Contacts

Shannon Gutoskie
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
613-992-7332

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @Canada_Trade
Like us on Facebook: Canada’s International Trade Plan-DFATD

Backgrounder - CETA and CKFTA Round-Table Participants

The following people and organizations participated in the Halifax round-table meeting, led by the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, on the Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA).

Angela Bishop, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia
Nathan Blades, Sable Fish Packers Ltd. and Nova Scotia Fish Packers Association
Joyce Carter, Halifax International Airport Authority
Berton and Joel German, I. Deveau Fisheries Ltd.
Dannie Hansen, Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd.
Geoff Irvine, Lobster Council of Canada
Phil LeBlanc, I.M.O. Foods Ltd.
Paul and Russell Logan, North Nova Seafoods Ltd.
George Malec, Halifax Port Authority
Gino Nadalini, Fisherman’s Market International Inc.
Thomas Poulsen, Zeus Seafood Inc.
Réal Samson, Premium Seafoods Group
Ian D. Smith, Clearwater Seafoods Ltd.
Jerry Staples, Halifax International Airport Authority

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Harper Government Highlights Benefits to Nova Scotia of Canada's Pro-trade Plan

News Release

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