Foreign Secretary to host Canada’s Foreign Minister at Hampton Court Palace

The Foreign Secretary is meeting his Canadian counterpart, François-Philippe Champagne, at Hampton Court Palace later today [Friday].

Canada is a close ally of the UK and a key partner in the UK’s drive to be a force for good in the world. Dominic Raab and Minister Champagne will discuss the global response to coronavirus, shared international priorities and strengthening UK-Canada trade.

Following respective visits to the Middle East this week, they are also expected to discuss the Middle East peace process and support to Lebanon following the recent explosion, alongside other foreign policy and security issues.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

I look forward to welcoming Foreign Minister Champagne to Hampton Court Palace, and to continue our work making the friendship between our countries a force for good in the world.

From trade to security cooperation, the UK and Canada have a close bond but above all we share the same values – and a commitment to champion them around the world.

The UK and Canada have a unique partnership as the only two members of all of the G7, the G20, the Commonwealth, NATO and Five Eyes.

We are committed to protecting and strengthening our trading relationship and to a seamless transition of free trade arrangements at the end of the transition period.

Notes to editors:

• The Foreign Secretary will host Minister Champagne in his constituency. They will visit Hampton Court Palace and hold talks in the Little Banqueting House and gardens.
• The Palace, begun by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 16th century and later home to Henry VIII and all six of his wives, was opened to the public in 1838 by Queen Victoria and attracted 700,000 visitors last year.
• The UK and Canada have a strong trading relationship. Total trade in goods and services between our two countries was £22.1bn in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2019, a 14.2% increase from the same period in the previous year.