The Trade Minister says a new trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates addresses concerns about workers' rights

Todd McClay and counterpart Minister Al Zeyoudi signed the deal this morning, to remove 98-point-five percent of export duties.

The Council of Trade Union's raised concerns migrant workers make up 88 percent of the UAE workforce, but have little to no work protections.

McClay says the deal has a sustainable trade section on these issues.

He says it was important to ensure the agreement was about more than trade, and also talked about both countries' values.