Canada, Jordan signed FTA deal

Canada has signed a free trade agreement with Jordan, its first with an Arab country.

The agreement will give Jordan preferential trade conditions, including full exemption from customs duties on Jordanian exports to Canada.

In return, Jordan will reduce customs duties on Canadian products over a transitional period of four years.

Canada's forestry, manufacturing, agriculture and agri-food sectors, meanwhile, will receive immediate duty-free access to Jordan. Jordan reopened its market to Canadian beef and cattle in February, and the deal will give Canadian beef producers competitive advantages in a market the Canadian Beef Export Federation estimates to be worth $1 million.

Jordan was the first Arab country to sign a free-trade agreement with U.S., is a member of the WTO and has an association accord with the EU that paves the way for full lifting of tariffs and customs. Western firms see Jordan as a regional hub for wider business access to Iraq and neighbouring countries.

(Source: http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=15452 )