Canada’s international trade minister says the updated and expanded free trade agreement with Israel – includes a provision on gender equality that is unique in the world.

Francois-Philippe Champagne says the new chapter on trade and gender will be subject to the dispute settlement mechanism – in the new deal between the two countries.

Champagne says it is a world first for a trade agreement to include a chapter on gender equality – that falls under the scope of a dispute mechanism.

Canada and Israel have had a free trade agreement for more than two decades.

The updated deal expands market access for both countries – and includes new chapters on issues such as e-commerce, intellectual property and labour.

Negotiations to update the agreement began under the Stephen Harper government in 2014 – and were concluded by the Trudeau Liberals.