By Cheryl Jahn

Trade Opportunities On Horizon

Mar 1, 2018 | 1:41 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Ninety percent of the pellets produced in Canada are shipped to Europe. That has been the case for years. But, the doors have been thrown open to additional trade since the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, was inked in September. 

“Europe is Canada’s second-largest trading partner behind the United States,” says Melissa Barcellos, the City’s Economic Development Officer. “So with the uncertainty that we’re seeing in the United States, Europe is another opportunity.”

Under the new CETA, 98% of goods entering the EU are tariff-free.

It’s the reason representatives from Global Affairs Canada, Canadian Trade Commissioners Service, Export Development Canada, and the Business Development Bank of Canada are coming to the city next Monday.

“They are going to different cities across Canada, presenting the new agreement between Canada and the European Union and the trade opportunities for businesses. Prince George and Kelowna are the only two BC cities that were selected.” 

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The list of industries now able to do business in the European Union is lengthy and includes things like agriculture and agri-food, forestry and wood products, metals, mining and minerals, and oil and gas. 

“Manufacturing is one of our top sectors. It really is because of those trades corridors – we’re at the crossroads of Highways 16 and 97, major rail lines coming into Prince George for the Port of Prince Rupert and the Port of Vancouver – opens a lot of doors for local businesses,” says Barcellos.

The event takes place Monday and the Ramada Hotel from 8:30 to 1 p.m. Anyone interested in one-on-one interviews between 11:45 and 1 p.m. need to register by March 2.