This article was updated on 13 October 2016. Could this incident become an embarrassment for the government in Ottawa which risks complicating an already complicated adoption and ratification process for CETA? It will certainly give further fodder to anti CETA activists. José Bové, a colourful MEP from the Greens group, an …
North America
CETA declaration has “legal value” – EU chief negotiator
Dismissed as hot air by many CETA critics, given its ‘interpretative’ nature – and because it does not alter the agreement – the ‘declaration’ the EU and Canada are currently drafting to allay concerns of trade critics in the EU and increase the chances that the trade agreement with Canada is approved …
In brief: One more week to CETA approval
The EU’s member states will decide next week (18 October 2016) whether to endorse a groundbreaking trade agreement with Canada. The deal has to be endorsed by all member states, then ratified by the EU Parliament and the 28 national legislatures. Next week the Council needs to give the green light …
Negotiators openly drop aim of concluding TTIP in 2016
Negotiators on both sides of the Atlantic have clearly given up on the idea of concluding TTIP talks this year, despite progress achieved on the technical aspects of the negotiations.
CETA: draft declaration hints at “effectively enforceable” labour and environment provisions in early revision
The German Social-Democrats were promised a declaration by trade commissioner Malmström and trade minister Freeland ahead of a coming Council meeting that aims to give the green light to the signature and ratification of CETA later this month. They are getting it. And it does not quite satisfy the demands made by Bernd …
Next steps after Bratislava trade ministers meeting
French business says stopping TTIP talks would be “an act of extreme gravity”
Twelve French business federations have called for continuation of TTIP negotiations ahead of a crucial trade ministers meeting held in Bratislava, Slovakia, today. The move comes in reaction to declarations by French secretary of state in charge of trade, Matthias Fekl, that he would request a halt to the negotiations, and for a …
Bratislava trade meeting: no major decision expected on dumping and China MES
The key priority of trade ministers gathering at Bratislava on Friday (23 September) will be to garner sufficient support from member states to authorise the signature of CETA next month at a bilateral EU-Canada summit.
Top EU farm group calls for conclusion of CETA, TTIP, EU Japan FTA
The EU’s biggest farm group Copa Cogeca is getting nervous about the prospects of key proposed EU trade agreements: CETA, TTIP and the EU-Japan FTA. “We need to find more new export outlets so that we are not totally dependent on the Chinese market”, Martin Merrild, the president of Copa …
Photo of the day
Sign left by the roadside by anti trade agreement demonstrators in Brussels on 20 September 2016. Photo taken on Avenue de la Loi, Brussels (21/09/2016).
