Understanding the future of Canada-UK Trade
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Winchester
Department Name: Faculty of Business, Law and Sport
Abstract
The close cultural and economic links that exist between the United Kingdom and Canada provide a
number of opportunities post-Brexit for the investigation of how the two countries may be able to expand
their existing trade relationship. According to Statistics Canada1, in 2017 the total trade between Canada
and the United Kingdom amounted to approximately 27 billion Canadian dollars making the United
Kingdom the 4th largest single trading partner for Canada, after the United States, China and Mexico.
Future policies for expanding trade between both countries can benefit from the opportunity to consider
a Circular Economy approach. A Circular Economy is an economic exchange that integrates social,
economic and environmental sustainability. Instead of the traditional linear economy of extraction,
production, distribution and consumption with significant waste generated in the process, a Circular
Economy leads to energy savings and waste elimination by reducing, recycling, remanufacturing and
upcycling production. Encouraging trade relationships designed to create a Circular Economy for both
trading partners will contribute to their own sustainability goals. However, the measures required for
such a transformation may challenge existing social, institutional, and technological norms. In this
context, understanding the balance between costs and benefits becomes increasingly important to justify
changes. Researching to find the gaps in our current knowledge of trading relationships and the impact
of a Circular Economy approach will assist in determining what that balance might be and what future
measures should be taken.
number of opportunities post-Brexit for the investigation of how the two countries may be able to expand
their existing trade relationship. According to Statistics Canada1, in 2017 the total trade between Canada
and the United Kingdom amounted to approximately 27 billion Canadian dollars making the United
Kingdom the 4th largest single trading partner for Canada, after the United States, China and Mexico.
Future policies for expanding trade between both countries can benefit from the opportunity to consider
a Circular Economy approach. A Circular Economy is an economic exchange that integrates social,
economic and environmental sustainability. Instead of the traditional linear economy of extraction,
production, distribution and consumption with significant waste generated in the process, a Circular
Economy leads to energy savings and waste elimination by reducing, recycling, remanufacturing and
upcycling production. Encouraging trade relationships designed to create a Circular Economy for both
trading partners will contribute to their own sustainability goals. However, the measures required for
such a transformation may challenge existing social, institutional, and technological norms. In this
context, understanding the balance between costs and benefits becomes increasingly important to justify
changes. Researching to find the gaps in our current knowledge of trading relationships and the impact
of a Circular Economy approach will assist in determining what that balance might be and what future
measures should be taken.
Planned Impact
Impacts of the Proposed Synthesis
This work will identify potential UK-Canada industry circular trade interactions for in-depth future
research and trade opportunities. The report will also include background research to support the
development of a future framework for how UK-Canada trade relationships would be managed and
governed based on Circular Economy principles, including possible dispute resolution mechanisms and
structures and mechanisms for fostering inclusive and transparent engagement of citizens and
stakeholders. Stakeholder engagement would be a basis for ensuring mutual prosperity and sustainability
with special considerations for equity and inclusion, labour, and the environment. The UK, Canada and
other countries may use the research findings when considering other circular bilateral trade
relationships. Business may use this knowledge, potentially spurring more sustainable international trade.
This work will identify potential UK-Canada industry circular trade interactions for in-depth future
research and trade opportunities. The report will also include background research to support the
development of a future framework for how UK-Canada trade relationships would be managed and
governed based on Circular Economy principles, including possible dispute resolution mechanisms and
structures and mechanisms for fostering inclusive and transparent engagement of citizens and
stakeholders. Stakeholder engagement would be a basis for ensuring mutual prosperity and sustainability
with special considerations for equity and inclusion, labour, and the environment. The UK, Canada and
other countries may use the research findings when considering other circular bilateral trade
relationships. Business may use this knowledge, potentially spurring more sustainable international trade.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Paul Sheeran (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
De Lange D
(2022)
UK-Canada Trade Post-Brexit: Leading with Circular Economy Trade
in Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances
| Description | Futher understanding of the relevance of the circular economy to international trade has been identified with the on-set of the Covid-19 pandemic. The re-design, re-use and re-cycle elements of the circularity model have moved the circular economy beyond niche use (big data offers the potential to measure this accurately). The increasing awareness of Net-Zero, de-carboninsing economies and controlling emissions in a local and global context is widening the relevance of the original research. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings of the research is contributing to an awareness of circularity in the public and private sector. This is noticable in the increasing alignment of business operations, trade and transport, and various investments embedding circularity in the ESG compliance measures. More companies are adopting circularity to mitigate problems of resource scarcity - it is expected that greater research and studies in assessing the benefits of the circular economy will be undertaken following the current global health shock - Covid-19 - particularly in areas such as Global Value Chains. These topics were covered in a webinar held at the Institute of Diectors 03/09/20 - UK contributer a particuipant. The event was titled: IoD Sustainability Agenda for SMEs: Rise of the Circular Economy These issues will be discussed further at the International Conferecne of Resource Sustainability, University College Dublin, Ireland 30 June - 2nd July 2020. This conference has been rescheduled for 19-23 July 2021 due to the pandemic |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceu |
| URL | https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Waste-Resources-and-the-Circular-Economy/Tudor-Dutra/p/book/9780367364649 |
| Description | On-going activities related to the original award are continuing with a comparative analysis on the progress and limitations of circularity in three C40 cities. The research builds on the foundations identified in UK-Canada research. This includes on-going discussion with the public and private sector working on a range of circularity programmes and projects in Vancouver, Berlin and London. The intention is to identify limitations in circularity and identify solutions. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Retail,Transport |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |