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Canada–Czech Republic relations

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Canadian-Czech Republic relations
Map indicating locations of Canada and Czech Republic

Canada
Czech Republic

Canada–Czech Republic relations are foreign relations between Canada and the Czech Republic. Canada has an embassy in Prague. The Czech Republic has an embassy in Ottawa, consulate general in Toronto and honorary consulate in Calgary.

Both countries are full members of NATO and of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. There are around 94,000 people of Czech descent living in Canada.[1]

Trade

Embassy of Canada in Prague
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa

In 2013, Canadian exports to the Czech Republic (CR) totalled (CAD) $134.8 million. Canadian goods sent to the CR made up of aircraft, helicopters and parts, machinery, turbojets, turbopropellers, medical instruments, pet food, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, iron/steel, plastics and non-alcoholic beverages. Exports from the CR totalled $446.6 million. Czech goods included machinery, iron and steel products, auto parts, tractors, tires, medical instruments, sports equipment, uranium, glass and beer.[2]

Visa dispute

In July 2009, Canada reinstated the requirement for people from the Czech Republic to have visas before entering Canada due to a high number of asylum seekers from the Czech Republic, mainly Roma, who allegedly abused the Canadian asylum system.[3]

The Czech Republic reciprocated by recalling its ambassador to Canada for consultations, imposing visa requirement for holders of Canadian diplomatic and official passports, and asking the European Commission to require visas for Canadian citizens to enter the European Union.[4][5] (The Czech Republic, as a member of the Schengen Zone, cannot unilaterally implement visa requirements or controls for Canadian citizens).

On 6 May 2009 at the Canada-EU Summit in Prague (Czech Republic's capital) started negotiations of Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a proposed free trade and copyright agreement between Canada and the European Union. Signing and ratification by the Czech Republic are required for CETA to come into effect.[6] Czech Republic declared it won't do either until the visa requirements by Canada are lifted.[7][8]

On 14 Nov 2013 the Canadian ambassador to the Czech Republic Otto Jelinek announced reinstatement of visa-free regime for Czech citizens.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "2011 Canadian census reports".
  2. ^ "Canada-Czech Republic relations".
  3. ^ a b CeskeNoviny: Canada to announce lifting visas for Czechs today
  4. ^ "Czechs impose visas on Canadian diplomats". Czech Press Agency. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  5. ^ "Czech PM says he wonders how rest of EU will react to visas". Czech Press Agency. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  6. ^ "Canada-Europe trade deal risks derailment over visa spat". The Star. Toronto.
  7. ^ "Víza do Kanady brzy skončí". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). 15 July 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Češi budou už brzy létat do Kanady opět bez víz". Czech Television (in Czech). 15 July 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
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