The historic free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union could be beneficial for Atlantic Canada. One port in particular is billing itself as the ideal pivot point between the two continents.

Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke is optimistic about the future of the port of Sydney. Clarke says Sydney is the closest mainland deep-water port in North America to trading partners across the Atlantic. 

“When you look at Nova Scotia, the exports that can come from here, last year in 2012, Europe imported just over $130 billion of agriculture and agri-foods,” says Clarke. “So, when you look at the European marketplace, the fact that the Port of Sydney is one full shipping day closer to that market, it is a natural fit.”

Clarke also points to the Maritimes’ seafood and forestry sectors as exports that could prove popular in overseas markets.

However, Sydney Ports general manager Paul Carrigan says it is through importing that Maritime shores are already on European radars.

“We currently get calls from Europe now about break-bulk and other products for delivery here to Sydney,” says Carrigan.

Sydney Harbour has already been dredged, deepening it enough to accommodate some of the world’s largest post-panamax container ships. However, the port is still in need of a container terminal.

While a container port is a long way away, Clarke says the municipality is working hard to interest private companies and government in building up the port’s infrastructure to accommodate container traffic and raw materials.

Clarke says the free trade agreement should only make it an easier sell.

“We can’t sit back,” says Clarke. “While government is working through ratification, we have to be working with our industry partners to position Nova Scotia, in our case, the Port of Sydney, to be part of that growing market opportunity.”

Clarke says the region is made more competitive by its strong rail and road networks for imported goods. He adds that the free trade agreement is an opportunity for Sydney to work with other ports, such as Halifax and the Port of Canso, rather than in competition.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald