The North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico came into force on January 1, 1994 and created the world`s largest post-GDP free trade region. Until 2014, NAFTA`s GDP was estimated at more than $20 trillion, with a market of 474 million people. [5] [6] Based on this success, Canada continues to negotiate free trade agreements with more than 40 countries and has free trade agreements, most recently with South Korea, Canada`s first free trade agreement with an Asia-Pacific partner. Since 2018, Canada has also concluded two other important multilateral trade agreements: the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreement with 10 other Pacific countries. [7] On September 21, 2017, CETA was provisionally implemented, immediately removing 98% of the EU`s customs positions on Canadian products. [8] Canada is currently the only G7 country to have free trade agreements with all other G7 countries. Free trade with the last G7 country, Japan, began with the entry into force of the CPTPP on 30 December 2018. If this agreement is signed, Morocco will become Canada`s candidate country for membership in these countries. It could therefore benefit from the presence of major international players in technical fields such as new information technologies, electronics, electricity and hydropower – these are some areas where Canada has recognized expertise. It is necessary to go beyond our trade with Canada to understand that they are still very limited and, importantly, not very diverse. The agreement being negotiated takes place in a context similar to that between Morocco and the United States. Small profits in trade, but very large investments.
Canadian investors are recruited from around the world and there is no doubt that a presence in sub-Saharan Africa is inevitable. In October 2009, the Government of Canada launched an extensive consultation process with the Canadian public, provinces and territories, businesses and non-governmental organizations to gather input and define the scope of a potential free trade initiative with Morocco. In parallel to these consultations, government officials from both countries participated in two exploratory cycles; first in January 2009 in Rabat, then in June 2009 in Ottawa. Morocco has entered into an association agreement with the European Union (EU) which came into force in March 2000 and foresees a total reduction in tariffs by 2012.