Canada and the EU conclude first Digital Trade Agreement and sign critical minerals financing framework
By Eve
Canada and the European Union concluded their first dedicated Digital Trade Agreement at a two day summit in Montréal ending on October 30. The deal bans unjustified data localisation mandates and demands for source code access, bans customs duties on digital transmissions, and standardises electronic contracts and signatures. A separate binding framework gives Europe's largest institutional lender direct access to Canadian critical minerals projects, and Canada exported about C$15 billion (about $10.8 billion USD) in digitally deliverable services to the EU in 2024, according to Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu.
Why it matters
Easier access to European lending for Canadian critical minerals projects could help secure battery supply chain inputs that charging hardware and vehicle demand depend on. Clearer rules on cross-border data flows and source code also matter for CPOs and software vendors running charging platforms and back office systems across the Atlantic.
Source
- Original title
- “Canada-EU Digital Trade Pact Bans Data Localization, Unlocks Billions for Critical Minerals Mining”
- Published
- 2 November 2026
In this story
- Topic
- Policy & Market
- Places
- Canada · European Union
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