Canada and EU Conclude Negotiations for First Digital Trade Agreement
On October 31, 2026, in Montréal, Canada's Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu and EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič announced the successful conclusion of negotiations for a Canada-EU digital trade agreement. The officials also discussed growing defence industrial cooperation and confirmed their next meeting will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Canada's Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu and European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič met on October 31, 2026, in Montréal, Quebec, on the margins of the Canada-EU Summit held from October 29 to 30, 2026. During the meeting, the two officials celebrated the successful conclusion of negotiations for a Canada-EU digital trade agreement, which is described as the first of its kind for Canada.
The new digital trade agreement aims to modernize the bilateral trade framework for the digital economy and complement the benefits of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The deal is expected to deepen Canada-EU economic ties and enhance the ability for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic to compete and grow in the global marketplace.
Minister Sidhu also noted growing defence industrial cooperation between Canada and the EU. He specifically cited a new contract awarded to Canadian defence technology company Galvion under the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, highlighting strengthened defence ties through such agreements.
Sidhu and Šefčovič are scheduled to meet next at the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)-EU ministerial dialogue in Hanoi, Vietnam.