European and Canadian textile and apparel industry groups urged leaders on Thursday to make fuller use of the EU-Canada trade deal as an EU-Canada summit opened in Montreal.
The European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX), the Canadian Textile Industry Association (CTIA) and the Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) said the sector can strengthen ties between the two economies.
EU textile and clothing exports to Canada approached 997 million euros in 2025, while imports from Canada totalled 147 million euros, the groups said. Exports in the first half of 2026 reached 702 million euros, up 5.7% from a year earlier.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), provisionally applied since September 2017, remains underused, the associations said. They cited European Commission data showing the preference utilisation rate for EU exports to Canada rose to 63.2% in 2024 from 38.7% in 2018, meaning some eligible exporters still skip available tariff preferences. They called for clearer guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises and urged EU member states that have not ratified CETA to complete national procedures.
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Canadian manufacturers, particularly in technical textiles and advanced materials serving defence, healthcare and construction, could use the European market to diversify beyond traditional customers, the groups added.
The associations pointed to joint policy statements EURATEX signed in April with CAF in Montreal and with CTIA in Frankfurt, which launched an EU-Canada Textile and Apparel Dialogue. They backed joint research in circularity and recycling technologies, and called for more coherent rules on traceability, eco-design and digital product information, including mutual recognition of standards where appropriate.
They urged leaders to cut regulatory burdens, noting small firms make up most of the sector, and to back business partnerships.
The groups stressed the value of open, rules-based trade and resilient, diversified supply chains amid global trade uncertainty.