Phil Hogan EC commissioner for agriculture

EU agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan will lead an EU trade delegation to Canada from 30 April to 3 May, with the aim of boosting trade an exports once the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) comes into force - a move that will see almost all tariffs on fruits and vegetables removed.

The commissioner's delegation will be composed of representatives of the EU's main agri-food sectors.

EU exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to Canada in 2015 totaled 78,673 tonnes at a value of €95m, according to data from the European Statistical Office, Eurostat, processed by Fepex.

Spanish exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to Canada in 2016 stood at 43,640 tonnes, worth E57.2m.

These exports to Canada were characterised by increasing diversity, both in vegetables and fruits, Fepex reported.

The export of Spanish fruit amounted to 35,080 tonnes and the export of vegetables to 8,522 tonnes, according to data from the general directorate of customs, processed by Fepex.