At Première Vision Montréal on April 22, 2026, the Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) and EURATEX — the European Apparel and Textile Confederation — signed a joint policy statement committing to deeper transatlantic cooperation on trade, sustainability, and innovation. The statement was adopted by EURATEX President Mario Jorge Machado and CAF Executive Director Bob Kirke.
Background: CETA's Untapped Potential
CETA has significantly deepened economic ties between Canada and the European Union, providing duty-free access for virtually all textile and clothing products. Yet bilateral textile and apparel trade remains modest relative to its potential. The joint statement identifies several reasons why CETA's benefits are not being fully utilized:
-
Low awareness of CETA's 'double transformation' rule of origin requirement
-
Underuse of preferential tariffs and of 'origin quotas' that allow more flexible sourcing
-
Regulatory and labelling divergences between the two markets
-
Limited visibility of market opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic
What EURATEX and CAF Have Agreed To
The statement sets out a concrete action agenda organized around four areas:
1. Business-to-Business Connections
-
Trade missions, matchmaking events, and industry partnerships
-
Linkages between EURATEX member associations and Canadian organizations
-
Joint guidance on CETA textile rules of origin and origin quotas
-
Expanded use of Canada–UK, Canada–EFTA, and Canada–Ukraine free trade agreements - as a complement to the CETA
2. Sustainability and Innovation
-
Knowledge-sharing on circular textiles, recycling, traceability, and eco-design
-
Alignment on enabling technologies, including the Digital Product Passport
3. Reducing Non-Tariff Barriers
-
Regulatory cooperation on labelling, testing, and compliance
-
Exploration of mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures
4. A New EU–Canada Textile and Apparel Dialogue
To coordinate this work, EURATEX and CAF will launch a formal EU–Canada Textile and Apparel Dialogue. This structured forum will serve as the operational mechanism for advancing the statement's objectives.
What This Means for Canadian Apparel Federation members
This agreement gives CAF a direct channel into European industry networks and policy discussions. For Canadian apparel companies — particularly those seeking to diversify supply chains, access sustainable inputs, or expand into European markets — the partnership opens doors that have been difficult to access independently.
CAF will use this framework to bring concrete opportunities back to its members: better guidance on using CETA, connections to European suppliers and partners, and a stronger voice in regulatory discussions that affect both markets.
Read the full joint statement: EURATEX–CAF Joint Policy Statement (April 2026)
Next Steps
The focus now shifts to execution. CAF will work with EURATEX and our members to identify priority actions under each workstream and to establish the EU–Canada Textile and Apparel Dialogue.
Any member that has recommendations for joint actions should contact us:
Contact Bob Kirke at bkirke@apparel.ca or visit caf-fcv.ca.