Minister Ng meets with United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for International Trade Kemi Badenoch

November 7, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada            

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, spoke today with Kemi Badenoch, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade.

Minister Ng congratulated Secretary Badenoch on her new role in the U.K. Cabinet and reiterated her commitment to strengthening the trade and investment relationship between Canada and the United Kingdom, which is underpinned by strong people-to-people and cultural ties.

Minister Ng discussed progress in negotiations toward a new, comprehensive Canada-United Kingdom free trade agreement and noted the importance of reaching an agreement that builds on long-standing and mutually beneficial trade and investment ties.

Minister Ng confirmed Canada’s commitment to working toward a successful accession by the United Kingdom to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and spoke of the importance of maintaining the agreement’s high standards.

She welcomed the United Kingdom’s continued engagement on WTO reform, including through the Ottawa Group, and underscored the importance of making progress on outstanding global trade issues in the lead-up to the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference next year.

Minister Ng reiterated Canada’s long-standing support for the Good Friday Agreement, noting that Canada has consistently stood up for the peace process in Northern Ireland. She also underscored Canada’s expectation that the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement be upheld.

Minister Ng reaffirmed her enthusiasm for creating new opportunities for women-led businesses and exporters, including through a planned women trade mission to the United Kingdom in the spring of 2023.

Associated links