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OTTAWA, Oct. 30, 2026 – The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) welcomes the signing of the Canada–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will improve market access for Canadian agriculture and agri-food exporters once it enters into force.

According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the agreement will provide preferential treatment for 98.7 per cent of current Canadian agricultural exports to the UAE. It provides for tariff elimination on products including pulses, canola seed, potatoes and french fries, beef and a range of prepared foods.

“Canadian farmers and food businesses need reliable access to more customers around the world,” said Michael Harvey, executive director of CAFTA. “This agreement is an important step toward diversifying agri-food exports. The next priority is to put these commitments into practice so exporters can benefit from more competitive access to the UAE market.”

CAFTA supports ambitious trade agreements that deliver commercially meaningful market access. Alongside tariff reductions, addressing non-tariff barriers and ensuring predictable, science-based requirements are essential to helping exporters realize the full benefits of negotiated access.

Signed on Oct. 27, the agreement will enter into force once both countries complete their domestic ratification processes. CAFTA encourages timely ratification and implementation, with continued government-industry collaboration to ensure the agreement delivers practical benefits for Canadian agri-food exporters.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Hana Sabah
Communications Consultant

Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
hana@sabahstrategies.com | 514-834-8841

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