Monitor: EU - Canada Trade Negotiations
Almost ten years after initial discussions, Canada and the European Union launched negotiations towards a comprehensive trade agreement in May, 2009. The elimination of barriers to trade in services and investment and duty-free access to industrial products of each other’s markets is expected to boost trade flows between Canada and the European Union. Canadian and EU officials have proposed a broad and ambitious negotiating agenda, which includes: trade in goods and services; investment; government procurement; regulatory cooperation; intellectual property; temporary entry of business persons; competition policy and other related matters; labour; and environment. The Canada-EU talks are particulary unique due to the presence of the Canadian provinces at the table, which is unprecedented for Canada in any previous international trade negotiations.
Objective:
“To reinforce the ability of EU and Canadian companies to leverage their core competencies, the environment within which they operate must be as productive as possible. The enhanced productivity and competitiveness that directly flows from trade and investment liberalization would, therefore, allow EU and Canadian firms to better compete in the global marketplace.”
Joint Report on the EU-Canada Scoping Exercise (2009)
- Boost bilateral trade by an estimated CA$27 billion per year over the first seven years.
- Increase Canada’s annual GDP by CA$12 billion by 2014.
- Generate 20% growth in bilateral trade by 2014.
- Deliver commercial benefits across many goods sectors (aerospace, chemicals, plastics, wood products, aluminum, fish and seafood, light vehicle and automotive parts, and agricultural products), as well as services sectors (transportation, engineering, and computer services).
- Enhance Canada-EU relations in the areas of investment, labour mobility, regulatory cooperation, environment, and science and technology.
- The EU is Canada’s second largest trading partner for goods and services. In 2008, Canadian goods and services exports to the EU totaled $52.2 billion, an increase of 3.9% from 2007. Imports from the EU amounted to CA$ 62.4 billion.
- In 2007, Canadian goods exports to the EU increased 3.5%, and two-way trade in goods reached CA$ 90.1 billion.
- The EU is Canada’s second largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), with over 25% of FDI stock in Canada at the end of 2007 and CA$ 133.1 billion in FDI at the end of 2008.
- In 2007, Canada was the EU’s fourth-largest source of FDI and in 2008, the EU was the destination of CA$136.6 billion in Canadian direct investment.
- First Round of Canada-EU CETA Negotiations (October 19-23, 2009, in Ottawa, Canada)
- Second Round of Canada-EU CETA Negotiations (January 18-22, 2010, in Brussels, Belgium)
Read more: http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2010/026.aspx - Third Round of Canada EU CETA Negotiations (scheduled for: April 19-22, 2010, in Ottawa, Canada)
Cape Breton Post - May 5, 2010
Prime Minister Harper arrives in Europe for four-nation, five day visit
CTV NEWS - May 5, 2010
PM to talk trade while on four day European tour
CBC NEWS - May 4, 2010
Harper Heads to Europe
The Globe and Mail - April 30, 2010
Free trade high on the agenda at the Canada-EU summit next week.
The Canadian Press - April 26, 2010
Big Stakes in Canada-Europe trade talks, but little attention
Edmonton Journal - April 19, 2010
Stakes are high for Alberta in Canada EU Trade Talks
Embassy Magazine - April 14, 2010
EU copyright demands chill trade experts
Pr Newswire - April 19, 2010
Secret Details Released About Canada-European Union Free Trade Talks
Globe and Mail- March 31,
Ontario foot-dragging imperils Canada-EU Trade pact, officials say
Techdirct -March 30, 2010
EU Keeps Pushing Canada To Make Massive Changes To IP Law, With No Concern For User Rights
Embassy Magazine - February 24, 2010
EU takes am at Canada Post, Ontario Green Energy Act
Embassy Magazine - February 10, 2010
EU wants all-access pass to Canadian procurement
Embassy Magazine - January 27, 2010
EU uses trade talks to pressure Canada on copyright laws
Embassy Magazine - January 21, 2010
Canada-EU Trade Deal Could Require National Securities Regulator
Vancourver Sun- January 13, 2010
Canadian Inuit sue EU over seal ban
National Post - September 19, 2008
National Post Editorial Board: Free trade with Europe is worth some concessions
Embassy Magazine - October 7, 2009
EU trade deal troubles brewing as negotiators set to land in Ottawa
Embassy Magazine- August 25, 2009
Who's Really in Charge of Trade?
Canada NewsWire - May 7, 2010
Canada-EU trade negotiations could signal significant new opportunities for Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector: CAFTA
Canadian Press - May 3, 2009
Majority of Canadians support Canada-EU trade talks: poll
European Commission: Trade Website
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/canada/
Joint Report on the EU-Canada Scoping Exercise (March 5, 2009)
http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accordscommerciaux/asset...
Joint Canada-EU Study on Assessing the Costs and Benefits of a Closer EU-Canada Economic Partnership
http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/assets/pdfs/EU-CanadaJointStudy-en.pdf
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada: Canada-European Union: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Negotiations
http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/eu-ue/can-eu-report-intro-can-ue-rapport-intro.aspx
bilateral.org – Negotiations – EU-Canada
http://www.bilaterals.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=179
Official Web site of the Mission of Canada to the European Union
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/eu-ue/index.aspx?lang=eng
For more details and questions about CTPL's Canada-E.U Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Research and Public Outreach program please contact the projects Program Manager: Kausar Ashraf.
