The UK and Canada will today launch negotiations on a new Free Trade Agreement in Ottawa.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan will meet with her counterpart, Canadian Minister for International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng to formally launch talks that aim to bring benefits for both countries and strengthen a trading relationship already worth over £19 billion in 2020.

Building on the benefits of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement, the new Free Trade Agreement will go further than ever before in areas like innovation, digital, data, the environment and women’s economic empowerment.

For example, the adoption of digital trading systems can make trade cheaper, faster and more secure for businesses. This could see more than 10,000 UK small and medium-sized businesses benefiting from lower barriers to trade such as simplified paperwork, encouraging more businesses to start trading with Canada.

The UK is Canada’s third largest trading partner and Canadian demand for imports is projected to grow by 45% by 2035. Canadian-owned businesses employ 108,000 people across the UK and additional investment resulting from a new deal could support jobs across the country and help level up the UK.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

The UK and Canada are close friends and international allies who believe in the value that free and fair trade brings to livelihoods and communities.

Our trading relationship with Canada was worth over £19 billion a year in 2020 and there is huge potential to strengthen and grow trade between our two countries. We want a new deal for the 21st century – one that will boost our thriving services sector, promote higher standards of living and act as a beacon for others to follow in its world-leading commitments on climate change and women’s economic empowerment.

A new UK-Canada FTA could bring benefits including:

• Boosting the UK’s world-renowned services sector by making it easier for services providers to trade in Canada, benefiting areas such as research and development, legal services, and finance. The UK is the second-largest exporter of services in the world, with services accounting for almost half (48%) of UK exports to Canada in 2020.
• Reducing barriers for goods exporters such as the processes and administration that disproportionately affect SMEs. Goods exports to Canada were worth £6.1 billion in 2020. Reducing these barriers can help businesses make the most of existing preferential tariffs.
• Stimulating more Canadian investment in the UK, supporting jobs across the country. Over 108,000 people were employed by Canadian companies in the UK in 2019.
• Helping women access the full benefits of trade. In the UK, up to £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women scaled businesses up at the same rate as men. A UK-Canada deal will seek to promote opportunities for women and break down barriers.
• Enhancing cooperation on tackling climate change by promoting green trade and supporting commitments including those in the Paris Agreement.

Negotiating a new agreement with Canada is also a vital part of our plan to build new trade routes for the UK’s services and digital economies and to refocus British trade on the faster-growing parts of the world. This includes our accession to CPTPP, a vast free trade area populated by half a billion people and with a joint GDP of £8.4 trillion in 2020.

Martin McTague, Federation of Small Businesses National Chair, said:

The launch of these trade talks marks a really important step forward.

A third of our members who export see Canada as an important market, and they’ll be hoping that these discussions result in an ambitious free trade agreement that enables more small businesses from both sides of the Atlantic to realise the benefits of trading internationally.

A dedicated SME chapter should be placed at the heart of any future agreement to ensure that small businesses can make best use of the FTA’s provisions.

Sally Jones, EY Partner in Trade Strategy, said:

Negotiations to upgrade the UK-Canada trade relationship are a welcome step which will enhance the deep and long-standing ties between the UK and Canadian business communities. This is a significant opportunity to agree new and ambitious trade provisions which will benefit the UK services sector.

Enhanced cooperation fostering greater regulatory dialogue and cooperation, and enhancing cross-border digital trade and innovation can help the UK continue to be a leading provider of services around the world.

Jerry Lawson, Founder, Frog Bikes, said:

As a British manufacturer we always look to find ways to grow our sales and promote our British brand. Canada and the UK share many similarities including the love of sports. Since Frog Bikes launched in Canada, we have seen a steady growth in the sales of our bikes, as the market has enjoyed the benefits of our lightweight bikes.

The introduction of an upgraded Free Trade Agreement between the two countries will make it far easier to sell Frog Bikes in Canada as well as removing any non-financial barriers thereby speeding up the time taken to put our bikes in the hands of Canadian stores selling to the parents and children in Canada.

The first round of negotiations is expected to start next week. Ahead of the launch, the Secretary of State will co-chair the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) Joint Committee meeting to reflect on the progress made in areas such as trade and sustainable development one year since the agreement came into force.

During her first visit to Canada in her role as International Trade Secretary, she will also visit Toronto to meet with UK and Canadian businesses based in the city.

She is expected to meet with a range of Canadian pension funds, including CPP Investments, which has invested nearly £15 billion into the UK. She will also celebrate the consortium partnership, MCS, between British firm, Mace and two Canadian companies, Comtech and SYSTRA Canada, on one of the country’s most ambitious rail infrastructure programmes.

Background

• The UK’s negotiating objectives can be found here
• The UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement was signed in 2020

The incident happened in July 2021 and their cases were brought to Redditch Magistrates Court by the Environment Agency on Monday 7 March 2022 where 33-year old Krzsztof Budzynski, of Gladstone Street and 43-year old Rafal Szalczewski, of Glover Street both pleaded guilty to the offences of the removal of fish and the removal of eel.

Both anglers got the same penalty, including a fine of £100 for the first offence and £200 for the second offence. Costs of £135 were awarded to the Environment Agency and there was a victim surcharge of £34, amounting to £469 for each angler.

The defendants were found in possession of fish and eels that they had removed from the river on 23 July 2021 at 10.40pm by a Birmingham Angling Association (BAA) club bailiff. The bailiff then contacted West Mercia Police and the fish, which included Chub, Perch and Bream, and the anglers’ fishing equipment, were seized by a police officer and handed to the bailiff.

The fishing rights at the location where the anglers were found are owned by the BAA and the rules state that any fish caught must be returned alive, and fishing is only allowed until one hour after sunset. Night fishing is not allowed. All of the fish and eels were found to be dead.

Following the verdict, Nichola Tomlinson, fisheries enforcement team leader for the Environment Agency, said:

This case demonstrates great partnership working as it involved West Mercia Police, the local angling club and the Angling Trust to enable us to bring about a successful prosecution. Whilst on this occasion both men had a valid fishing licence, it is also imperative for anglers to observe fishing byelaws.

It also shows how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope the penalty will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of breaking fishing byelaws.

Not complying with the byelaws can incur a fine of up to £50,000 and, as in this case, offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized.

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Far-flung pubs in rural communities across England are among the cherished community assets being saved by government levelling up funding today (24 March 2022).

In a boost for Great British boozers, endangered pubs in areas such as West Cornwall and Melton Mowbray will be put into the hands of the local community, giving them a new lease of life for generations to come.

In rural Wiltshire, a pub that has stood at the heart of the communities of the Ogbourne Saint Andrew, Maizey and Rockley hamlets for over 100 years has been thrown a lifeline with investment of £237,500. The Silks pub is the only place that locals can get together, making it vital to the lives, wellbeing, and economy of the community.

There is funding for the Prince of Wales pub in the Cornish town of Helston too, which has become a focal point for the community after the local shop, garage and school closed in recent years. And £150,000 will breathe new life into the Bell Inn in Leicestershire, which closed two years ago and was likely to be lost to developers.

The pubs are among 10 new projects being rescued with a total of £1.8 million of funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The money is being awarded from the department’s £150 million Community Ownership Fund, which helps communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of closure.

Today’s allocations also include funding for a sports academy in Northern Ireland, a community centre in Scotland, an historic chapel in County Durham and a village shop and post office in Dorset.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said:

Pubs, historic buildings and sports clubs form a vital part of our heritage and for too many places they are a disappearing part of the local community.

That is why we are helping local people take control of these beloved community assets, which would otherwise be lost.

This sits right at the heart of our vision for levelling up – giving people the power to make positive changes in their local community and restoring pride in the places where the live.

CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said:

Where dedicated local people are willing to save pubs in their area from closure, demolition or conversion to another use it is right that they are supported to do just that.

Our locals are vital parts of our social fabric – bringing people together, helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation, and providing a range of services for rural communities they serve.

That’s why it is so encouraging to see that more communities are benefiting from Community Ownership funding to secure the future of pubs in their communities.

In Northern Ireland, the Ballymacash Sports Academy received £300,000 to provide state-of-the-art sport facilities to help young people from all backgrounds excel in their sporting talents.

Historic Vogrie Hall in Scotland will be brought back to life with a £127,251 investment. The 1930s building in the heart of Midlothian, was once a hub at the heart of the local community but was forced to close in 2020 after falling into disrepair.

The Fund is already helping communities across the nation seize ownership of prized local assets, including supporters of Bury Football Club who recently bought back the club’s historic Gigg Lane stadium.

Other successful projects confirmed today include:

• £240,000 for the Prince of Wales pub in the Cornish town of Helston, which has become a focal point for the community after the local shop, garage and school closed in recent years.
• £150,000 will breathe new life into the Bell Inn in Leicestershire, which closed two years ago and was likely to be lost to developers.
• £56,760 to restore the historic Chapel in Weardale which attracts tourists from all over the world, and creating new employment opportunities for the local community.
• £247,500 will revive the much-loved George building and its courtyard garden in Newham, to create a fun, thriving historic community spot for residents and visitors, helping to build a stronger, more resilient community.
• £204,800 will keep the doors of Fontmell Magna village shop and Post Office open in Dorset. The café and tea garden are the only such local services and are one of the focal points for community life.
• £235,952 will support local junior football and street cricket clubs in Adwick Park, with refurbished facilities.
• £237,500 of investment has given a pub in rural Wiltshire a lifeline, a pub that has stood at the heart of the communities of the Ogbourne Saint Andrew, Maizey and Rockley hamlets for over 100 years. The Silks pub is the only place that locals can get together, making it vital to the lives, wellbeing, and economy of the community.