Urging closer cooperation between Germany and Canada

On the occasion of the second meeting of the German-Canadian High-Level Steering Group on Bilateral Cooperation in Ottawa on June 6 th , and following the recent state visit to Canada by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Transatlantic Business Initiative (TBI), the Business Council of Canada (BCC), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CGCIC) reaffirm the following policy priorities shared by the German and Canadian business communities.

Germany and Canada have been close economic partners for many years. In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever for our two countries, and the European Union, to work together to strengthen economic and political cooperation and defend our shared values. Support for multilateral institutions and rules-based international commerce must remain at the core of European and Canadian economic and trade policy.

Our countries are contending with serious challenges. The pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine disrupted international supply chains and revealed dangerous dependencies. The conflict in Ukraine threatens peace and stability in Europe and has disrupted energy supplies. However, Russia’s belligerence has fostered international cooperation among like-minded countries on a scale not seen since the end of the Cold War.

Business leaders in Germany and Canada stand ready to do their part in helping to overcome these challenges. To that end, we urge closer cooperation between our countries in the following areas: