Empire Nights: The European Commissioner for Trade and Canada’s Minister of Trade

Strategy, Resilience and Growth: Canada–EU Trade Next Steps under CETA

Canada and the European Union are no longer just trading partners—they are strategic allies in a world where supply chains, security, and climate policy are increasingly intertwined and driven by shifting geopolitics. Two‑way trade in goods and services has surged to more than €123 billion (about $162 billion CAD) a year, a more than 70% increase since CETA’s provisional application, underscoring how central the EU has become to Canada’s diversification strategy. At Davos, Prime Minister Mark Carney set a new bar for that strategy, calling for Canada to “double our non‑U.S. exports” and to “move from reliance to resilience” by building a denser web of partnerships that are economically and politically sustainable.

On March 5, join The Empire Club of Canada for an evening conversation at the heart of this pivot. The program featured remarks from Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade, and The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, each offering their perspective on the future of Canada–EU cooperation under CETA. Their speeches will be followed by a joint fireside chat that examines how the two partners can secure critical supply chains, respond to geopolitical shocks, align climate and trade policies and keep markets open while protecting Canadian and European workers.   The fireside chat was moderated by Arlene Dickinson, General Managing Partner, District Venture Capital — legendary entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and “Dragon” on CBC’s Dragon’s Den.

The evening asked what a mature, strategic Canada–EU partnership should look like and what it will take to turn today’s $162‑billion‑plus relationship into a resilient platform for the next decade—one that strengthens democratic alliances, and keeps both economies competitive in an era when, as Prime Minister Carney warned, “the old order is not coming back.” Join us for an Empire Nights program that brings the strategic choices and critical next steps for a future-oriented Canada-EU trade partnership into sharp focus.