Related News
EU approves Canadian trade deal
Print Edition
THE European Parliament backed a contested EU-Canada free trade deal yesterday, facing down protests by activists and Donald Trump-inspired calls for protectionism.
MEPs hailed the deal as a rare victory for an imperilled global trade system that is under threat from US President Trump who opposes far-reaching trade deals.
The accord, known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, is tipped as Europe’s most modern ever and a possible model for relations with Britain after its leaves the European Union.
MEPs meeting in Strasbourg, France, solidly approved the pact with 408 votes in favor, 254 against and 33 abstentions.
“This is a watershed moment — EU trade policy will never be the same again,” said senior Scottish MEP David Martin, whose Socialists and Democrats group split on the issue.
Approval by the parliament allows the provisional implementation of the CETA as early as next month.
Protesters attempted to disrupt the vote, with about 700 people marching outside parliament to voice their opposition to the deal.
Anti-globalization activists dressed in surgical masks dramatically blocked the entrance to the parliament building, before being dragged off by riot police.
“Saying yes to CETA is a trampling of the people,” said a banner.
Following the approval by parliament, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will address MEPs in person today.
EU states and Canada formally signed the deal in October after seven years of tough talks, overcoming last-minute resistance from a small Belgian region that blocked its national government from approving the accord.
“By adopting CETA, we chose openness and growth and high standards over protectionism and stagnation,” said Latvian MEP Artis Pabriks, a conservative from the EPP group who sponsored the law.
Opponents to CETA slam the deal as a “trojan horse” to big business and a danger to health, democracy and the rule of law.
“The disconnect between MEPs and public concerns over living standards, public health and the environment is another blow to the EU,” said Greenpeace’s EU trade policy adviser Shira Stanton.
Some of the more controversial aspects, including a much-derided investor court system, still require ratification by EU member states, which could take years.
CETA will remove 99 percent of non-farm customs duties between the two sides, a big win for exporters on both sides of the Atlantic.
And unlike classic trade deals, CETA harmonizes regulations on matters such as health and the environment, a major concern for activists.
Some industries are left untouched. The CETA deal will not remove tariff barriers for public services, audiovisual and transport services and a few agricultural products, such as dairy, which is heavily subsidised in Canada.
A major flashpoint for opponents is the proposal to set up special courts to settle disputes between investors and national authorities that is central to the deal.
Opponents believe this provision hands too much power to multinationals that will use powerful lawyers to undermine national regulations.
“Multinationals will be able to attack governments in a privatized court system,” said France’s far-right presidential candidate and MEP Marine Le Pen, who voted against CETA.
But the deal’s EU negotiator, Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem, told MEPs that “nothing in this agreement undermines a government’s right to regulate in the public interest”.
The vote comes at a sensitive time for global trade matters, with Britain poised to leave the EU and President Trump rejecting an Asia-Pacific trade deal.
Trump is also widely expected to drop a similar proposed deal with the EU known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Trudeau met with Trump on Monday in Washington.
Trump had vowed to put “America first” and rip up the North America Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
