Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleCanada and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a digital trade agreement, according to a readout from Global Affairs Canada, published by the Government of Canada on October 31, 2026. The department describes it as the first agreement of its kind for Canada.
Ministers mark the milestone in Montréal
Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, met Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on the margins of the Canada-EU Summit. The summit was held in Montréal from October 29 to 30, 2026. Global Affairs Canada says it was the third time the two had met this month.
The readout says the two discussed the Canada-EU partnership and their shared commitment to advancing the ambitious outcomes of the summit. They celebrated the conclusion of the negotiations and described the deal as an important step in deepening economic ties between Canada and the EU.
What the agreement is meant to do
According to the government, the agreement will modernize the bilateral trade framework for the digital economy. It is also meant to complement the benefits already provided by the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
The government says the goal is to help businesses on both sides of the Atlantic compete and grow in an increasingly digital global marketplace.
Defence cooperation and next steps
The readout says Minister Sidhu also welcomed growing defence industrial cooperation between Canada and the EU. He noted a new contract awarded to Galvion, a Canadian defence technology company, under the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument.
The two officials also discussed progress on bilateral trade issues. They committed to building on the momentum of the summit to advance that work.
Sidhu and Šefčovič are scheduled to meet next at the upcoming Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership-EU ministerial dialogue in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The government’s readout links to further material on the agreement, including a page on the Canada-European Union Digital Trade Agreement and an announcement of a new Alliance for the Future between Canada and the EU. It also links to a “Do business in Europe” resource for Canadian businesses.
Media inquiries can go to Global Affairs Canada’s Media Relations Office at media@international.gc.ca.
Source: Government of Canada (all depts)
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
