A cheese company has welcomed a an EU trade deal the near-total removal of tariffs on exports to Canada.

The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) comes into effect today.

This means 98 per cent of import duties will be scrapped, giving UK companies easy access to a valuable market of more than 35 million.

But exporters may have to move quickly as a new deal may need to be negotiated when the UK exits the EU in 2019.

Snowdonia Cheese Company in Rhyl welcomed the news with tariffs cut to zero on food and drink such as cheese, beef and marmalade. After eleven years of focusing on building their brand in the UK, the Snowdonia Cheese Company set their sights on the international market.

In 2012, the company decided to create a business plan to expand its markets abroad and identified Canada as one clear market to target.

Richard Newton-Jones, Commercial Director of the Snowdonia Cheese Company, said: “Canada is an affluent country; it fits the right profile for exporting. The Canadians appreciate high quality products and from a trade perspective, everyone is open to business, welcoming and keen to talk which is very refreshing.

“Canadian audiences in particular seem to have a real affinity with Britain and British products. Our brand really resonates with them and consumers and investors have been extremely warm and welcoming to us.

"Exporting to Canada has raised our profits and grown our business. I’d definitely recommend other UK businesses to explore trading with Canada.”