Standards Council of Canada Signs Cooperation Agreements with Brazil and Ukraine

Oct 27, 2018

An arrangement with the Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) provides the framework for continued cooperation in areas of mutual priority, including regional engagement and international standards governance. A cooperation arrangement with the Ukrainian Research and Training Center for Standardization, Certification and Quality (UkrNDNC) will enable stronger standards cooperation, including the development of international standards.

The arrangement with Ukraine supports Global Affairs Canada in its implementation of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA). It is similar in nature to other cooperation arrangements and Memoranda of Understanding that SCC has signed to support the implementation of Canada’s free trade agreements, including with the European Union, Korea, Mexico, and the United States.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) already works closely with the Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT), particularly through the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT) (link is external). SCC’s 2017 research report, Speaking the Same Technical Language, revealed that this type of regional engagement increases Canadian trade. SCC’s participation in COPANT was actually associated with a 10 percent increase in Canada’s exports to member countries and a 17 percent increase in imports from member countries.

“We are very pleased to sign this Cooperation Arrangement with Brazil,” says Chantal Guay, Chief Executive Officer of SCC. “It will further strengthen our relationship with ABNT and support Canada’s trade diversification priorities bilaterally with Brazil and as part of Mercosur.” The federal government recently concluded exploratory discussions for a possible free trade agreement with Mercosur countries—Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

SCC’s mandate includes promoting efficient and effective standardization to advance the national economy, facilitate international trade, and further international cooperation in relation to standardization. Entering into arrangements like these with similar organizations in other countries helps to deliver on this mandate.