European Union and Canadian plastics exporters are to benefit from a new free trade deal. Once the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been ratified (probably in 2015), it will lead to all existing non-food duties imposed on good traded between the parties being scrapped.

This will mean an end to 6.5 percent duties levied by the EU and Canada on imports of each other＇s plastic tubes, pipes and hoses, and fittings; plastic floor coverings; lavatory seats and covers; plastic sacks and bags; and tableware, kitchenware and other household articles.

Also being scrapped is the 2-6.5 percent levy charged by Canada on EU plastic self-adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil, tape, strip and other flat shapes; and the 6.3 percent duties charged by the EU on these products when made in Canada. And the 3 percent duties charged by Canada on EU exports of melamine resins, and the 6.5 percent duties charged by the EU on Canadian exports of the same, will go.

European Commission president José Manuel Barroso said: "This agreement will provide significant new opportunities for companies in the EU and in Canada by increasing market access for goods and services."

The EU already sells substantial volumes of plastics to Canada. In 2012 it exported US$49.4 million worth of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip; US$45.2 million worth of plastic tubes, pipes and hoses, and fittings. It also sold US$7.2 million worth of plastic tableware and kitchenware.

As for Canadian exporters, in 2012 they sold US$33.1 million worth of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip to the EU, and US$8.9 million worth of plastic tubes, pipes and hoses, and fittings; and US$2.1 million worth of tableware and kitchenware, for instance.
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