Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement

Additional background information

In August, 2002, the Minister of International Trade announced that Canada and the Andean Community had agreed to begin exploratory discussions towards a proposed FTA. As part of the exploratory discussions, the Minister launched extensive domestic consultations with business, citizen-based organizations and individual Canadians, as well as with the provincial and territorial governments, to obtain advice and views on priorities, objectives and concerns to help define the possible scope of this initiative.

Guided by the government’s commitment to pursue more bilateral free trade agreements, along with the Prime Minister’s pledge to re-engage relationships throughout the Americas, the government has pursued an FTA with Peru. On June 7, 2007, The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, announced the launch of free trade negotiations between Canada and Colombia and Peru. The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement was signed in May 2008. The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement was signed in November

On May 29, 2008, the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement was signed. This was the second Free Trade Agreement signed by Canada in 2008 and Canada’s fifth FTA with countries of the Americas following the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement and Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement. At the same ceremony, two parallel accords on environmental and labour cooperation were signed.

On March 26, 2009, the Government of Canada introduced legislation to implement the Canada-Peru Free Trade, Labour Cooperation and Environment Agreements in the House of Commons. The implementing legislation for the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement, Labour Cooperation Agreement, and Agreement on the Environment has been adopted by Parliament, and has received Royal Assent on June 18, 2009. (see News Release: Trade Agreement with Peru Opens Doors to Latin America)

The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement, Labour Cooperation Agreement and Agreement on the Environment entered into force on August 1, 2009. (see News Release: Minister Day Announces Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement)