“This trade agreement is an historic win for Canada,” said Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he signed a tentative EU-Canada trade agreement with the European Commission on October 18, 2013.
With the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canada will have access to more than 500 million consumers, and most trade tariffs will be dropped.
But critics worry about the impact on a wide variety of Canadian industries and such activities as Canadian dairy farming. Others are concerned that the agreement will give French companies Suez and Veolia access to run water services for profit in Canada.
Other critics are concerned by the impact of business dispute clauses that would allow Canadian and European companies to challenge government regulations that impede their businesses.
Since the announcement of the agreement, government ministers have fanned out across Canada to promote the agreement to Canadians.
On Tuesday (October 29), in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Harper tabled a 26 page technical summary of the agreement.
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda has a report.
More information:
Canadian government’s summary of CETA benefits – here
Globe and Mail – Canada, EU unveil ‘historic’ free-trade agreement – here
Globe and Mail – Ottawa will step in to cushion blow of extra costs from EU deal, Ontario says – here
Official Opposition NDP trade critic statement on CETA – here
Green Party opposes anti-democratic elements of CETA – info – here
rabble.ca – Canada-EU deal threatens Canada’s water – here
CETA technical summary – here
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