Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement

Additional background information

Following a visit by King Abdullah II to Canada in July 2007, Canada and Jordan committed to exploring the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement. At the conclusion of King Abdullah’s visit, a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and a new Air Services Agreement were also announced.

On June 28, 2009, the Honourable Stockwell Day, then Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, signed the three Agreements and a Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPA) at a ceremony with his Jordanian counterpart (see News Release:Minister Day Signs Trade and Investment Agreements with Jordan).

Canada and Jordan concluded FTA negotiations, as well as negotiations for an Agreement on the Environment and a Labour Cooperation Agreement on August 26, 2008.

On November 15, 2011, the Government of Canada tabled legislation to implement the three agreements in the House of Commons (see News Release: Canada Introduces Legislation to Implement Free Trade Agreement with Jordan and Panama).

On September 21, 2012, the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, announced that the Canada-Jordan FTA and the related Agreements on Labour Cooperation and the Environment would enter into force on October 1, 2012. (See News Release: Harper Government Announces Latest Milestone in Pro-trade Plan to Open New Markets for Canadian Exports).

This followed the Minister’s June 29, 2012 announcement that the Canada-Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity Act had received Royal Assent (see News Release: Legislation to Implement Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement Receives Royal Assent).

Canada and Jordan already enjoy good economic and trade relations. In addition to the above agreements, Canada has a bilateral Air Services Agreement and a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, as well as the FIPA, which was signed at the same time as the FTA.

The FTA will expand Canada-Jordan trade and help further strengthen and deepen our bilateral relationship. An FTA with Jordan also demonstrates the importance that Canada places on further developing relations with Jordan, especially given its role as a moderate Arab state that promotes peace and security in the Middle East.

The Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Labour Cooperation Agreement and the Agreement on the Environment came into force on October 1, 2012.