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EU members approve free-trade talks with Canada
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The Associated Press
Date: Monday Apr. 27, 2009 7:51 PM ET
LUXEMBOURG — The European Union endorsed plans Monday to open negotiations with Canada on a new free-trade pact.
The negotiations, which could last two years, are to be officially launched at an EU-Canada leaders summit May 6, in Prague.
EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton said launching the talks "sends a signal that the European Union remains committed to trade and open markets at a time of economic crisis and rising protectionist sentiment."
The "enhanced" trade deal will aim to open up trade in numerous areas including investment services, government procurement and agriculture goods.
"The new economic agreement will bring new opportunities for business," said Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, whose country holds the EU presidency.
The trade deal will also aim to include a first-time agreement to allow the temporary movement of workers between Canada and the 27-member bloc and include efforts to bring into line regulatory rules on everything from copyright to food and animal safety rules.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest, a main proponent of closer Canada ties with Europe, has said a trade deal is the best way to protect jobs and to counterbalance Canada's dependence on the American market.
EU foreign ministers approved the mandate for the talks Monday.
A study evaluating the benefits of closer economic ties concluded a deal could open up trade worth $18 billion Cdn a year for the European Union and $13 billion annually for Canada. It said both sides could profit from closer ties in science and technology and better environmental co-operation.
Negotiations will involve not only the Canadian federal government but also provincial and territorial officials, who are responsible for many of the issues involved.
The expected launch of negotiations will also come a day after the European Parliament is expected to pass a resolution calling for a limited ban on seal products from Canada, to protest the annual seal hunt off Canada's Atlantic coast, which EU legislators find cruel and inhumane.
Traditional Inuit hunts in Canada's Arctic would be exempt.
Canadian officials said such a move could damage ties and has threatened to take the EU to the World Trade Organization claiming such a ban would be illegal under world trade rules.
The EU is Canada's second largest trading partner after the United States, while Canada is only the EU's 11 most important trading partner.
Interest on the EU side for closer ties is based on getting better access to the North American market, notably to the United States, via its North American Free Trade pact. The EU already has a free-trade deal with Mexico.
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It is about time - as a grandparent I have watched our kids (who were allowed to fail although I do remember some nagging on our part) learn, I have watched our children now micro-manage their children. A big part of it is the fact that there are predators out there and an extreme reluctance on the parents part to alllow freedom that might result in the children becoming victims.
Comments are now closed for this story
Jillian in Airdire
said
Mark in NB
said
There is a reason that France, England, Portugal, Spain etc lost thier colonies. They wanted free trade (take resources) and still have control (fine print ala lumber with the USA).
If we think the US is bad wait for the EU to pile on. I trust the EU less than the US and it just sucks to say that.
Part of the "negotiations" should include agricultural subsidies and the EU's protectionist policies. But alas, we'll probably get the shaft on this one. Hopefully we get a referendum like the Free Trade with the US.
cam
said
Good points but logic holds no sway over proponents of open borders.It is all about multi-nationals bottom line and they have the peons drinking the cool-aide big time.
Al in NB
said
GHW
said
Frank (Toronto)
said
And I agree with Red X. We need to expand out trade relations with the Asia-Pacific region.... especially when it comes to automobiles. Why Japan, and Korea are able to flood our market with their vehicles, while North American automakers are shut out of countries over there doesn't seem right.....
Red X
said
Raj
said
Linda in Vancouver
said
But even worse,regardless of how you feel about the seal hunt,the real point is that any decision on how to manage it,is a decision to be MADE IN CANADA.There is no issue in within Canada that could induce me give ANY foreign government the right to impose their will on Canadians.That,GHW,would be the real "joke" to which you refer.Especially if it's the EU who gets to "stand on guard" over us.That is just plain crazy!
You must be forgetting that it's EU support that has NATO in Afghanistan.But of course,in a real European style,it's "that other guy" who gets to do the dirty work.
On the positive side,like the west has become used to being a colony of Ontario,I now see a Canada once again being a European colony,and a slave to their wishes.
Trade? Certainly.But just like FTA with the USA,watch for the fine print.They will expect to come out on top every time.Maybe even more than the Americans.They still see us as the colonies in need of their guidance.
Ian in Ottawa
said
Doug BC
said
I don't want Canada to be like the USA,for sure.But being beholden to European nations would likely be much worse.There."it's their way,or the highway".Like the USA,they will want to be "THE BOSS",and they will bring down the hammer on everything that offends their bizzare sensibilities.
They are the masters of protectionsim and self interests.They will argue that it is continental Europe and NOT Toronto,that is the centre of the universe to which we should all bow down.
Al
said
Your comment taps into the ignorance of knowing what the fishing industry is all about. It wasn't the Canadian fisherman who depleted the stocks on our east coast. Our own Canadian government was the sole cause of it demise, by selling out to foreign fishing and doing nothing about the overfishing. As for the EU we don't need them. If anything they need us more than we need them. Why we would even negotiate while they are against the seal hunt is beyond me, but then again the Feds have no problem sacrificing the east coast to appease Quebec and Ontario.
Ronald in Toronto
said
Meanwhile, we'll stop clubbing seals when the Irish stop shooting snakes.
Wait a sec.....
Dean
said
Red X
said
NAFTA has benefitted the U$ with resources to the north and labour to the south. Canada must move beyond this SHAFTA because the lumber issue is back even though Canada keeps winning and the Conservatives gave up $1 Billion to the lumber protectionists...
david sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
said
That really scares me,, now our government wants to export its cheap food policy to europe,, download it all to MY farmgate and force me to feed a hungry world for free.
I am tired of living the life of a pauper to feed canadian freeloaders, and now harper wants me to do it for the rest of the world???
Tono
said
That's right: Canada does need to increase its trade with Europe and decrease its trade with the USA.
Miramichi Kid
said
GHW
said
As for the seal hunt issue, I don’t understand why we’re not putting a stop to this. The fishing industry claims the seals compete with there livelihood. This is a joke. They strip mine the ocean of all the fish and now that there’s little to no fish left. All of a sudden it’s the seals fault? There is no future in the fishing industry, move on… Let the seals live and eat something else.
YA from Toronto ON
said
Or at least that is what I hope occurs. We have been depending on US for too long. At times they've used their muscles to squeeze us. At times its been a fair game while other times its been, well least to say unfair. Good to go Canada and EU. There is only good time for both of us. Let’s get it done.
Dan from Northern Ont
said
Stephane
said