Meeting with Mr. Steve Verheul, Canada Chief Negotiator
Written by Administrator
Friday, 08 January 2010 15:44
PDF Print E-mail

 Meeting withMr. Steve Verheul, Canada Chief Negotiator

“Canada/EU Free Trade: Seeking Industry Input event”

In partnership with IE Canada, DFAIT, CERT and Bennett Jones LLP
November 23, 2009

This is a Trade Investment and Enhancement Agreement, trade agreements were done before but it didn’t cover goods, or tariffs. There is no interest from both sides for small objectives, but involves a lot of stretching.

The Status of the Negotiations:

We had meetings in the summer where we agreed on an outline, all is moving quickly, there are 21 negotiating groups, 35 to 40 EU negotiators and 60 political territorial people, the results: good progress, nobody said “no” to anything but “let’s try and find a different angle, let’s work on it”. One of the biggest concerns we have is to get input from the private sector.

Challenges:
  • Agriculture (both Canada and the EU) and supply management
  • For the EU: dairy, wine, processed food
  • For Canada: pork, beef, fish, seafood, government procurement
  • Imports take more time, when is time to talk about “goods” both parties will get more ambitious.

There was some delay in matters of investment due to the Treaty of Lisbon because the Parliament will have more power, some people could cause problems there but is not a big problem, the EC is ok and strong on CETA.

Canada is pushing the labor mobility issue and recognition of professionals, but the EC has no responsibility on immigration issues.

The biggest challenge is having the provinces and territories at the negotiation table, it is the first time it happens, we have to spend a lot of time with them, visit every province, etc. However, no one single province can block this deal.

The private sector was very instrumental in moving negotiations forward; this might not be a huge scale initiative but is it a very important issue for both parties. To Canada is particularly important because we know that over reliance on a single market is a risk. This is good also to be an integral part of the WTO, if we don’t do this FTA we will be left behind.

Why could it fail?

The lack of political will. There are sensitivities in political areas and these provincial interests are holding us back. It is important to realize that political interests have a clear united voice. We need to motivate the business community to push it and make it happen.

 
Last Updated ( Friday, 15 January 2010 09:22 )