BULGARIAN EXPORTS TO CANADA GROW 15% UNDER CETA

The Bulgarian exports to Canada have grown 15% under the EU-Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), says Mr. Brad Niblock, senior trade commissioner at the Embassy of Canada to Romania, Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova. According to Mr. Niblock the treaty does not reduce the stringent health and safety regulations concerning all imported agricultural and food products.

This interview originally appeared on the news agency Mediapool. 

Mr. Niblock, CETA has been partially implemented since 21 September 2017. What has been the impact of the agreement on the trade relations between Bulgaria and Canada for the last year? 

I would like to make a small correction: CETA has been provisionally (not partially) implemented since 21 September 2017, which means that more than 99% of CETA's regulations, with very few exceptions, are currently in force. One of the most important benefits is the elimination of tariffs on 98% of all goods traded between Canada and the EU, including Bulgaria, which has led to an increase of more than 15% in Bulgarian exports to Canada in the one year since the implementation of CETA. This is a very positive trend.

CETA also creates new opportunities for Bulgarian farmers and agricultural food producers; opens up the Canadian services market to Bulgarian companies; enables Bulgarian firms to bid for more public contracts in Canada; protects Bulgaria's research and creativity; makes it easier for Bulgarian professionals to work in Canada; encourages more investment between Bulgaria and Canada; and helps Bulgaria's small businesses export more to Canada.

Is there any growth in the Bulgarian export for Canada in 2018? What are the main Bulgarian goods and...