Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid has welcomed news that the UK has secured a vital rollover deal on a trading relationship with Canada worth £20billion.
Canadian President Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have agreed to continue on the basis of the existing EU-Canada arrangements.
Talks will begin next year on a new, bespoke trade deal between the two Commonwealth nations.
Last year, 814 businesses in Scotland exported goods to Canada worth £411million, including beef, whisky, salmon and other seafood.
This deal will ensure tariff-free trade in 98% of goods between the two countries.
The announcement means that in under two years, the UK Government has agreed trade deals with 53 countries, accounting for £164billion of UK bilateral trade.
Scottish Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan David Duguid said:
“This agreement is another positive step forward for the UK.
“It avoids the imposition of tariffs on our goods exported to Canada and means that the price of Canadian products and materials that we import will not increase.
“That will be very good news to the hundreds of Scottish companies that regularly export goods to Canada – particularly in the food and drink sector.
“This agreement will also benefit those manufacturing businesses around the UK who import much of their raw material from Canada.
“Overall, this agreement underpins £20billion worth of trade between the UK and Canada and provides certainty for thousands of jobs across the country.
“The deal also paves the way for an improved trade agreement to be negotiated that will benefit both sides.
“And it once again underlines the huge opportunities as we take our place as an independent trading nation outside of the EU.”