Belarus and Canada

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and Canada were established on April 15, 1992. Since September 1, 2021 in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, the Embassy of Belarus in Canada has ceased its work. Belarusian citizens residing in Canada can apply for consular services at the Consulate General of Belarus in New York (the U.S.). Official representation of Canada to Belarus is based at the Canadian Embassy in Warsaw.

In 2006-2015, official contacts between Belarus and Canada remained limited on the initiative of the Canadian side. In 2006 and 2007, the Government of Canada adopted restrictive measures against the Republic of Belarus, having removed Belarus from Canada’s General Preferential Tariff regime and having added Belarus to the Area Control List (ACL) of countries to which the exportation of all items is only permitted with a valid export permit.

As a result of the improvement bilateral relations, on July 12, 2017, Canada lifted restrictions on the supply of Canadian goods and services to the Belarusian market, which intensified the Belarusian-Canadian cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres. Export Development Canada and Canadian Commercial Corporation resumed interaction with Belarus.

From 2017 to August 2020, bilateral relations developed constructively, there was an interest of the parties in enhancing cooperation in the political, commercial, parliamentary and interdepartmental areas. The parties resumed the practice of holding regular consultations between foreign ministries, increased the level of bilateral contacts.

On December 7, 2017, a meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Vladimir Makei with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was held on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Vienna.

On September 26-28, 2018, a delegation of Canadian business circles paid a visit to Minsk on the occasion of the First Belarusian-Canadian Business Forum.

On September 27, 2019, a meeting of the Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei with former Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Critical assessment of the results of the presidential elections in Belarus held in August 2020 and of the events that followed led to the imposition of sanctions by Ottawa against certain officials of Belarus, including the Head of State. In response, Minsk introduced travel restrictions on several Canadian officials.

Given the existing disagreements, it is important to continue contacts in those areas of trade, economic, educational and humanitarian cooperation with Canada where the two parties share interest.

Belarusian exports of goods to Canada in 2020 amounted to $ 19.1 million.

Belarus-Canada trade, million US dollars