European and Canadian textile associations call for stronger CETA use at EU–Canada Summit

European textile and apparel association Euratex, the Canadian Textile Industry Association (CTIA) and the Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) have issued a joint statement calling for closer transatlantic cooperation in the sector. The statement coincides with the EU–Canada Summit in Montréal on October 29 and 30.

The three associations are urging EU and Canadian leaders to use the summit to strengthen implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has been provisionally applied since September 2017.

Trade still has room to grow

According to the associations, EU exports of textiles and clothing to Canada came close to 997 million euros in 2025, while imports from Canada reached 147 million euros. In the first half of 2026, EU exports rose 5.7 percent year-over-year to 702 million euros.

The groups say small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up most of the sector, are not yet making full use of CETA. Citing European Commission figures, they note that the preference utilisation rate for EU exports to Canada rose from 38.7 percent in 2018 to 63.2 percent in 2024, meaning many eligible exporters still do not claim the available tariff preferences.

They are calling on EU member states that have not yet ratified CETA to complete their national procedures, and for clearer practical guidance for SMEs on both sides of the Atlantic.

Research and regulation

The associations also back joint research and industrial partnerships in technical textiles, advanced materials, circularity and recycling technologies. On regulation, they are calling for more coherent approaches to traceability, eco-design and digital product information, as well as alignment of technical requirements and, where appropriate, mutual recognition of standards.

The statement builds on joint policy statements that Euratex signed in April 2026 with CAF at Première Vision Montréal and with CTIA at Techtextil Frankfurt, which launched an EU–Canada Textile and Apparel Dialogue.