“Given that energy and transport account for 80% of EU emissions, climate and energy policies must go hand in hand. That is why as part of its Energy Union the EU has put renewable energy at the heart of its future energy system” said Mr. Miguel Arias Cañete, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy.[1]
The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is designed to facilitate and boost trade in clean technologies, among other markets, between the EU and Canada. Simplifying business operations will lead to an increased exchange of knowledge, professionals, technologies and innovation in the fields of green and renewable energy. Concrete provisions to eliminate tariffs under CETA improved labour mobility and mutually recognized conformity assessment. Another important feature of CETA is the greater access to public procurement markets that will support the EU’s and Canada’s initiatives towards cutting carbon emissions, controlling air pollution, the better treatment of waste water, turning waste into energy, and more efficient use of energy. These procurements cover a broad range of clean-tech services, including engineering and integrated engineering services, technical testing and analysis services (including quality control and inspection), and sewage and refuse disposal, sanitation, and similar services.[2]
Canada has several initiatives to financially support the implementation and development of cleantech such as the Clean Growth Program (CGP), a $155 million investment in clean technology research and development (R&D) and demonstration projects in three Canadian sectors: energy, mining and forestry. Additionally, the Green Infrastructure programs wants to help accelerate the deployment and market entry of next-generation clean energy infrastructure. Canada government also has a dedicated page for Funding, Grants and Incentives towards clean energy.
Furthermore, CETA includes a system of mutual acceptance of the results of conformity assessment tests. This system facilitates products’ conformity and certifications issued by the assessment bodies of both the EU and Canada. These provisions can reduce costs and shorten the Time-to-Market length for European producers. Electrical and electronic equipment (including electrical installations and appliances, and related components), measuring instruments and certain machinery that may be relevant to the clean-tech sector are covered by the mutual conformity assessment system. By avoiding double-testing on both sides, CETA can help reduce the costs of market entry, which can especially make a difference for small clean-tech enterprises interested in overseas markets.
Whether it is promoting your products and/or services, installing new business partnerships or researching the market for opportunities, there’s plenty of activities taking place in Canada. Visit Canadian Clean for a list of upcoming events and trade fairs or contact your EEN Partner for future business missions and events.
The CETA Market Access Program for EU Business is an EU funded project to help European companies to fully benefit from free trade agreement between the EU and Canada. The Program collaborates with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada, which hosts the Program’s webpage.
Please visit the Program’s webpage here or get in touch with the Program Team at:
ceta.market.access@development-solutions.eu
[1] The European Union Leading in Renewables. 2015. European Commission
[2] http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/assets/pdfs/agreements-accords/ceta-clean-tech-2016-eng.pdf
Global Affairs Canada – Government of Canada
