What we heard - Public consultations on the Canada-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and UAE accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

The Government of Canada is committed to diversifying its trade and investment partners in order to drive economic growth and create good jobs for Canadians. Canada is working towards the goals of doubling non-US exports over the next decade and attracting $1 trillion of investment over the next five years. To this end, on November 20, 2025, the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced the intent to launch negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

In anticipation of commencing CEPA negotiations in 2026, Global Affairs Canada launched public consultations, inviting Canadians to submit their views, reflections, and priorities with respect to enhanced trade and investment with the UAE, as well as gathering perspectives on the potential impacts and opportunities of a Canada-UAE CEPA. Submissions received from these consultations will help define Canada’s interests in, and approach to, CEPA negotiations with the UAE.

On August 22, 2025, the UAE formally submitted a request for accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Submissions from these consultations will also inform Canada’s approach with respect to any potential consideration or engagement with the UAE concerning its CPTPP accession.

Summary of consultations

Global Affairs Canada conducted public consultations on priorities for the Canada-UAE CEPA negotiations and UAE CPTPP accession from December 13, 2025, to January 27, 2026. These public consultations were conducted through a Canada Gazette notice that invited written submissions.

Global Affairs Canada received 95 written submissions and one letter writing campaign (consisting of 107 submissions) from Canadians across the country during the formal consultations period, including think tanks, businesses and business associations, civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and sub-federal governments and agencies.

Figure 1. Written submissions received during public consultations, according to stakeholder type.

Additional submissions received very shortly after the formal closure of the consultations period were included in this report. All views submitted, including those received long after the closure of consultations will be shared with Canadian trade negotiators and will contribute to informing Canada’s approach to Canada-UAE CEPA negotiations.

What We Heard

Overall, 75 unique stakeholders across a broad range of sectors indicated support, or conditional support, for Canada’s engagement in Canada-UAE CEPA negotiations. They cited an interest in fostering economic integration and increasing economic opportunity for Canadians. They also emphasised the importance of building and maintaining internationally recognized labour and environmental standards in the UAE, and of ensuring a level playing field for Canadian businesses.

Submissions that were either neutral or negative on the prospects of closer relations with the UAE included 20 from unique stakeholders and one letter writing campaign with 107 submissions. Several unique stakeholders were concerned about transparency and trust. The others conveyed the same concerns as the letter writing campaign, which was entirely focused on human rights concerns regarding the UAE’s role in the conflict in Sudan. The letter writing campaign rejected the idea that Canada should engage commercially with the UAE based on these concerns.

Figure 2. Level of stakeholder support indicated in written submissions received during public consultations

Overall, stakeholders generally view a Canada-UAE CEPA as a positive way to expand commercial opportunities between the two economies. They see the potential for a CEPA to contribute to economic growth and supply chain resilience. Many stakeholders from the private and public sectors emphasized the need to improve regulatory alignment with the UAE, and to ensure that policymaking is science-based, fair and predictable. A number of private sector stakeholders suggested the government should pursue market access commitments in the UAE, while several business associations wanted to ensure market access in certain sectors would be maintained at current levels. Many businesses and business associations suggested they would benefit from government support in order to expand their capability to take advantage of the benefits of a new CEPA. Additionally, several stakeholders identified the need to ensure that outcomes include equitable policies and that the interests and voices of marginalized groups be reflected within the agreement.

Figure 3. Top areas of interest identified in written submissions received during public consultations

Views of Canadian businesses

We heard from Canadian businesses and business associations from the following sectors:

• agriculture and agri-food;
• metals;
• autos;
• manufacturing; and
• digital economy.

In general, businesses indicated support for the establishment of trade rules and procedures that cut red tape and help level the playing field against competitors that benefit from preferential treatment. Businesses and associations support an agreement that would improve economic resilience, diversify supply chains, lower costs, harness the digital economy, and improve the regulatory environment. Many indicated they would welcome support from the government to expand their businesses abroad.

Agriculture and agri-food

The government received a total of 19 submissions from business associations, and 3 submissions from companies in the agriculture and agri-food sector.

Agri-food stakeholders, such as those in export-oriented sectors (for example, cereals and oil seeds), view a bilateral CEPA as an important opportunity to secure rules that facilitate trade, and to address tariff and non-tariff barriers that hinder Canadian exports, especially concerning sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Among the priorities for these agri-food stakeholders are commitments that require regulatory measures for food safety, animal and plant health to be science-based, transparent, harmonized with international standards, and not applied in a manner that creates unnecessary barriers to trade.

Agri-food stakeholders from supply-managed sectors (for example, dairy and poultry) emphasized the importance of not expanding current levels of access to the Canadian market. These stakeholders indicated that they are not opposed to moving forward on CEPA negotiations but insisted that Canada refrain from making any market access concessions for supply managed products and ensure that any access be limited to already-established volumes provided for in existing agreements.

Numerous submissions noted that approval processes and regulatory regimes often differ across jurisdictions, which can cause unnecessary trade disruptions and slow agri-food innovation (for example, crop protection products and products of biotechnology). Stakeholders across a range of agricultural sectors called for Canada to work with the UAE to support and reinforce regulatory frameworks that are based on science and internationally accepted risk assessment principles. Likewise, regarding biotechnology, stakeholders recommended that commitments on predictable, timely, transparent and science-based approval processes form a baseline for discussions.

Services

A professional services association indicated that it would value a bilateral CEPA as a way to deepen economic cooperation and commercial ties with the UAE.

The service association emphasized that cross-border trade in services must be accompanied by respect for Canada’s regulatory framework, including labour mobility.

Views on labour rights

Several submissions from the private sector, unions and civil society stakeholders highlighted labour rights and standards as a priority issue. Private sector associations underscored the importance of reinforcing internationally recognized labour standards. Civil society groups called for the adoption by the UAE of International Labour Organization conventions on domestic work and on violence and harassment in the workplace and called on Canada to ensure fully enforceable provisions on labour rights in the CEPA.

Think tanks urged Canada to build upon the provisions found in Canada’s latest labour chapter as a baseline. In addition to the think tanks, unions stressed that all provisions should create “fair trade”, reflect the interests of workers, and not undermine Canada's ability to implement regulations intended to protect workers, citizens and the environment.

Views on the environment

A range of stakeholders raised environment considerations, including civil society organizations, provinces and territories. Think tanks stressed that a bilateral CEPA should incorporate enforceable environment commitments. Other stakeholders, including in the private sector, encouraged the government to pursue trade rules that support strong environmental standards.

Horizontal considerations

Stakeholders from all sectors raised the importance of transparency throughout the negotiations, and several asked to be kept informed as negotiations continue. Several stakeholders raised the importance of ensuring underrepresented groups, including women and Indigenous Peoples, have a voice during negotiations.

Two civil society organizations called on Canada to not include an investor-State dispute settlement mechanism in a CEPA with the UAE, concerned that such a mechanism favors corporate interests over public interests.

One Canadian cultural industries organization suggested the CEPA adopt the exception for cultural industries from CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement).

Indigenous Peoples

We heard support across stakeholders and rights holders for a general exception for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as carve-outs and special provisions to promote opportunities for Indigenous businesses in the partnership.

Sub-federal governments

Five sub-federal governments and agencies prepared substantive submissions. Submissions recognized the importance of standards and initiative-based agreements, and welcomed opportunities to:

• increase trade;
• attract investment; and
• facilitate trade.

Overall, these submissions supported the CEPA but cited the importance of commitments related to small- and medium-sized enterprises, state owned enterprises and Indigenous Peoples. We also received a recommendation to secure exceptions for Indigenous Peoples based on those in CUSMA, and to support Indigenous communities to develop international markets for Indigenous-produced goods.

Provinces and territories suggested Canada focus on ensuring that the CEPA works to level the playing field and reduce barriers to trade. They also noted the need for greater regulatory convergence in key areas such as agri-food. Some submissions highlighted emerging industries that should be taken into account during the negotiations, including:

• digital trade;
• critical minerals and mining; and
• advanced technologies.

Some provinces and territories emphasized the importance of ensuring that key reservations and exceptions are protected in a bilateral agreement, such as the right to regulate in the public interest.

Conclusion

Overall, stakeholders support CEPA negotiations with the UAE, in particular if the CEPA delivers enforceable, commercially relevant outcomes while protecting Canada’s sensitive sectors, regulatory sovereignty and public-interest priorities. The dominant view is that Canada should pursue ambition where gains are realistic, and ensure that any agreement enhances predictability, fairness and long-term economic resilience.

Next steps

The Government of Canada is committed to consulting and engaging with Canadians and key stakeholders throughout the process. The feedback received from stakeholders will help define Canada's interests and priorities during negotiations.

Contact information

We thank everyone who participated in the consultations. Global Affairs Canada is committed to continuing to hear the views of partners, stakeholders, and interested Canadians in the Canada-UAE CEPA. You are welcome to share your feedback at any time, using the contact information below.

Canada-UAE Trade Negotiations
Global Affairs Canada
111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON  K1N 1J1
Email: TCE-Consultations@international.gc.ca