Ukraine expanding cooperation with foreign partners - economy minister

MOSCOW. March 16 (Interfax) - Ukraine plans to formalize a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates and update a free trade agreement with Canada in April, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko said at an Exporters Summit in Kiev on Thursday.

"We are to sign a digital agreement with the United Kingdom on Monday. This is not about tariff regulation but about a regulatory environment, so as not to set up excessive barriers," Ukrainian media quoted Sviridenko as saying.

The European Union has actually decided to extend a duty-free trade agreement with Ukraine for another year, and the government sees it as "objective No. 1" to preserve it until Ukraine joins the EU, she said.

Among other objectives facing the Economy Ministry in promoting Ukrainian trade and exports, Sviridenko mentioned accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which should improve Ukraine's access to the Japanese, New Zealand, and Australian markets.

Ukraine will be actively expanding its presence in Africa through liberalizing trade with its countries, Sviridenko said.

The EU is expected to announce on Thursday that it is extending transport liberalization agreements with Ukraine, "as we hope, until 2024," she said.