Mæland wants a new trade agreement with Canada

Minister of Industry Monica MælandMinister of Industry Monica Mæland.Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB scanpix

Just over a week after the EU signed the free trade agreement CETA, the Crown Prince and Princess travelled to Canada together with members from the Norwegian government in hopes of coming home with a similar agreement for Norway.

Free Trade Agreement CETA removes 99 percent of tariff barriers between Canada and the EU, but must first be approved by the European Parliament, which will vote on it in December or January.

Minister of Industry Monica Mæland  is one of the ministers in attendance during the Crown Prince couple’s official visit to Canada next week.

Specifically, Norway is looking to renegotiate and upgrade the free trade agreement we have with Canada through the EFTA from 2009.

– Today’s agreement, which Norway is a part of, has zero tariffs on fish and industrial goods, but no provisions for trade in services and investment. Our goal is to be on an equivalent level with CETA, with some nuances, says Mæland said to news agency NTB.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today