(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
 
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Tuesday, 21 July 2015 with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The two leaders discussed the conclusion of negotiations to expand and modernize the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.
 
Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Canada is one of Israel’s closest friends. We deeply appreciate our extensive and deep cooperation with the Canadian government, which has flourished in recent years and of which the free trade agreement is but one example. This expanded and modernized agreement will further energize the trade between our countries to the benefit of both our peoples.”

The Free Trade Agreement was signed on July 31, 1996, in Toronto. Under the agreement, all industrial products and some food and agricultural produce agreed upon in advance are exempt from taxes. The modernized agreement will provide expanded market access opportunities for agricultural, fish and seafood products through the reduction or elimination of Israeli tariffs on a large number of products, and duty-free access under tariff rate quotas for certain products.