On Friday, Canada signed an agreement in principle with the European Union for free trade. Here is some other trade facts.
Trade with the European Union 2012
Canadian exports: $38.7 million
Canadian imports: $50.6 million
Trade with United States in 2012 
Canadian exports: $338 billion
Canadian imports: $233 billion
Trade with China in 2012 
Canadian exports: $19.3 billion
Canadian imports: $50.7 billion
Where Canadian goods went in 2011 (last year for which figures are available):
United States, 73.7 per cent of all our exports
United Kingdom, 14.8 per cent of all our exports
China, 3.8 per cent of all our exports
Pie chart on exports
Countries from which Canada imported most in 2011
United States, 49.5 per cent of all imports
China, 10.8 per cent of imports
Mexico, 5.5 per cent of imports
Pie chart on imports
(Source: Foreign Affairs and International Trade; State of Trade 2012.)
The Canada-EU deal will remove 98 per cent of all tariffs between Canada and the European community, making it easier for trade, investment and labour mobility.
It will allow:
- more Canadian meat to Europe;
- more wheat and canola oil to Europe;
- tariff reductions on lumber and forestry products from Canada;
- eliminate rules that force a certain amount of fish and seafood to be processed in Newfoundland and Labrador;
- cheaper cars from Europe;
- more cheese into Canada;
- greater access to large government procurement contracts for European countries;
- extend patent protection on some brand name drugs for a few years, likely at a cost to Canada.
ksmith@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/kismith
