Originally published in the Journal of Commerce in April 2019

Falling very much into the – you win some and you maybe lose some – a couple of noteworthy decisions have been published which may have long-term implications for the current Administration’s trade policies.

The first was in the decision in American Institute for International

Canada

On August 1, 2017, the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (“CUFTA”) enters into effect. The CUFTA is a trade in goods agreement (that is, it does not cover services and investment). Canada has agreed to reduce most customs duty rates to “free” or 0% immediately upon implementation on goods that meet the rules of origin. 

Canada

Signing Ukraine FTACanada has sent a diplomatic note to the Government of Ukraine (the Ukrainian Embassy in Canada) stating that the implementation date for the Canada-Ukraine FTA is August 1, 2017.  The Canada-Ukraine FTA was singed in Kyiv on July 11, 2016. On March 14, 2017, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to ratify the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade

Canada

Cyrstal Ball MoneyOn March 7, 2017, BillC-31 “An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine passed second reading in Canada’s Senate.  Bill C-31 is now being reviewed by the Senate of Canada Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.  After the Report is prepared by the Standing Committee

Canada

Canadian flagFlag_of_Ukraine.svgOn January 31, 2017, Bill C-31 “An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine” will be discussed by the Standing Committee on International Trade.  Bill C-31 was introduced in the House of Commons on November 3, 2016 and received First Reading.  On December 13, 2016, Bill C-31 received

Canada

Businessman with World Map Globe.

Looking back over the last 12 months, the level of activity in the area of export controls, economic sanctions and trade restrictions in Canada is somewhat surprising.  Canada is usually rather quiet and there is not a lot to report.  The last 12 months are different and we are seeing activity at Global Affairs,

Canada

Signing Ukraine FTAThis morning (July 11, 2016), Canada’s Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and Ukraine’s First Vice Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv signed the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (“CUFTA”) in Kiev, Ukraine.  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko watched the historic event.

After the signing ceremony President Poroshenko @poroshenko tweeted:

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement

Canada

Flag_of_Ukraine.svgCanadian flagOn July 14, 2015, Canada and Ukraine signed the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (the “CUFTA”).  As at January 1, 2016, Canada has not released the test of the CUFTA.  Also, on January 1, 2016, the Ukraine-EU Free Trade Agreement came into effect.  This means that Canada is behind the larger EU.  This means that