| | Tallinn, Stenbock House, 9th July 2010 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met today with Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Peter van Loan, who is visiting Estonia. The most important topics under discussion included the current state of free trade negotiations between Canada and the European Union, security and energy issues, and bilateral economic relations.
Prime Minister Ansip introduced Estonia’s plan to adopt the euro at the beginning of next year to Peter van Loan, and he affirmed the government’s dedication to continue liberal economic and conservative budgetary policies. The ministers recognised that trade volumes between the two countries are modest and expressed hope that the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, which is currently still in the negotiations stage, will increase momentum in the future.
Van Loan thanked the prime minister for Estonia’s support for the Canadian candidacies at the UN.
Speaking about the problems related to Estonian Air’s plans to acquire three new planes from Bombardier, both Prime Minister Ansip and Minister van Loan recognised that this transaction is between two companies, in which the governments of the countries cannot interfere, and they expressed hope that an equitable solution can be found to satisfy both parties.
Other topics at the meeting included joint participation in the NATO military operations in Afghanistan and developments in the energy field in the Baltic Sea Region.
In terms of total turnover, Canada was 19th among Estonian trading partners in 2009. Last year, Estonia imported goods worth 166 million EEK from Canada, while exports to Canada amounted to 2,006 million EEK. The large balance of trade surplus results from the export of mineral fuels that do not conform to European Union standards. In addition to energy carriers, Estonia sells machinery and equipment, animal products, as well as finished food products and beverages to Canada.
Peter van Loan, who is of Estonian heritage, is in Estonia on a private visit.
Photos of the meeting available at http://www.valitsus.ee/?id=10408
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