Canada will not get free trade with EU, even after bowing down to Romanian demands

[Cybran]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a7377796.html

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has said he cannot sign a landmark EU trade agreement with Canada after it was rejected by one of the country’s regions.

After the French-speaking Wallonia region refused to approve the historic deal with Canada, the EU gave Mr Michel until today to turn the situation around.

But talks with Wallonia’s leaders have now broken down, leading Mr Michel to admit: “We are not in a position to sign Ceta.”

There is now major doubt over the pact’s future and over whether a special summit will go ahead on Thursday with Canadian President Justin Trudeau.

Socialist-run Wallonia wants stronger safeguards on labour, environmental and consumer standards before giving backing to the pact. Belgium’s federal government cannot agree to the deal without the consent of five regional authorities.

Supporters say Canada and the EU would eliminate 98 per cent of tariffs under the proposals, negotiated over five years between 2009 and 2014.

Europe's failure to sign Ceta was highlighted during the UK's EU referendum campaign as one reason Britain would be better off outside the union.

But it has also been underlined as a sign that the UK will have difficulty organising its own free trade deal with the EU if it leaves the single market after Brexit talks

Thanks to Belgium the dangerous CETA agreement will not be signed. But Canada already agreed to drop visas for Romania and Bulgaria. Sucks to be Canada.

[Independent voter]

Tennisauce said it will happen, I believe.

[Captain N]

In Tetanus Shot We Trust....

Oh this isn't one of those threads....

[Yvaelle]

Canada's leader is a "Prime Minister", not a President (apparently The Independent doesn't know this?).

Here's a pretty good video on CETA, developed and narrated by Maude Barlow (who I have a ton of respect for):



As usually comes up in FTA threads, in concept I think FTA's can be powerful tools for building strong and stable economies, by taking advantage of the forces of globalization. However, I am routinely dissatisfied with the execution of FTA's by corporatists and their lobbyists.

Effectively, CETA is TTIP - it may be a functional free trade agreement between the US and Europe - by proxy of Canada - for the benefit of no nation or its citizens. It was a short-term play designed by our former Conservative Prime Minister - with the intention of taking advantage of legislative element between US/EU countries, by requiring new Canadian subsidiaries to interact by hopscotching the borders (NAFTA for US/Can, CETA for Can/EU): at least until TTIP was in place.

In the long-term though? It's an erosion of sovereignty and the ability of all countries to protect their best interests and their citizens from the rising storm of global market forces. Globalization, in the long view, will be a good thing for the planet - but it will be rough weather for everyone involved in our lifetimes.

[Aitch]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a7377796.html



Thanks to Belgium the dangerous CETA agreement will not be signed. But Canada already agreed to drop visas for Romania and Bulgaria. Sucks to be Canada.

Right.. I'm sure Canadians will be flocking to Bulgaria now.. /sarcasm

[NED funded]

Fuck Wallonia and fuck Belgium. I'm usually critical of FTAs and sympathetic of those affected but this shit makes me wish they just died during winter Anyway I hope the UK can get a better FTA, but by the looks of it, it doesn't seem like they can get awaybwithout the freedom of movement of thing.

- - - Updated - - -

Canada's leader is a "Prime Minister", not a President (apparently The Independent doesn't know this?).

Here's a pretty good video on CETA, developed and narrated by Maude Barlow (who I have a ton of respect for):



As usually comes up in FTA threads, in concept I think FTA's can be powerful tools for building strong and stable economies, by taking advantage of the forces of globalization. However, I am routinely dissatisfied with the execution of FTA's by corporatists and their lobbyists.

Effectively, CETA is TTIP - it may be a functional free trade agreement between the US and Europe - by proxy of Canada - for the benefit of no nation or its citizens. It was a short-term play designed by our former Conservative Prime Minister - with the intention of taking advantage of legislative element between US/EU countries, by requiring new Canadian subsidiaries to interact by hopscotching the borders (NAFTA for US/Can, CETA for Can/EU): at least until TTIP was in place.

In the long-term though? It's an erosion of sovereignty and the ability of all countries to protect their best interests and their citizens from the rising storm of global market forces. Globalization, in the long view, will be a good thing for the planet - but it will be rough weather for everyone involved in our lifetimes.

Something something muh sovereignity.

[Yvaelle]

Something something muh sovereignity.

I thought maybe this was supposed to be a rebuttal to my point, or perhaps a blanket dismissal of the concept and importance of national sovereignty - and I was going to respond along those lines. Now I realize it's just your Sparknotes version of what you got from my post.

[THE Bigzoman]

Canada's leader is a "Prime Minister", not a President (apparently The Independent doesn't know this?).

Here's a pretty good video on CETA, developed and narrated by Maude Barlow (who I have a ton of respect for):



As usually comes up in FTA threads, in concept I think FTA's can be powerful tools for building strong and stable economies, by taking advantage of the forces of globalization. However, I am routinely dissatisfied with the execution of FTA's by corporatists and their lobbyists.

Effectively, CETA is TTIP - it may be a functional free trade agreement between the US and Europe - by proxy of Canada - for the benefit of no nation or its citizens. It was a short-term play designed by our former Conservative Prime Minister - with the intention of taking advantage of legislative element between US/EU countries, by requiring new Canadian subsidiaries to interact by hopscotching the borders (NAFTA for US/Can, CETA for Can/EU): at least until TTIP was in place.

In the long-term though? It's an erosion of sovereignty and the ability of all countries to protect their best interests and their citizens from the rising storm of global market forces. Globalization, in the long view, will be a good thing for the planet - but it will be rough weather for everyone involved in our lifetimes.

This x 1000000000000000

You're not going to get a lot of pushback from economists when you promise a reduction in trade barriers.

The problem is that firms with a higher market share are defining the rules of these trade agreements. They only endorse "competition" and "free market" when it's convenient for them.

More often than not, these trade agreements restrict market entry for the majority of firms while only permitting entry for a few.

[Deleted]

Canada's leader is a "Prime Minister", not a President (apparently The Independent doesn't know this?).

Here's a pretty good video on CETA, developed and narrated by Maude Barlow (who I have a ton of respect for):



As usually comes up in FTA threads, in concept I think FTA's can be powerful tools for building strong and stable economies, by taking advantage of the forces of globalization. However, I am routinely dissatisfied with the execution of FTA's by corporatists and their lobbyists.

Effectively, CETA is TTIP - it may be a functional free trade agreement between the US and Europe - by proxy of Canada - for the benefit of no nation or its citizens. It was a short-term play designed by our former Conservative Prime Minister - with the intention of taking advantage of legislative element between US/EU countries, by requiring new Canadian subsidiaries to interact by hopscotching the borders (NAFTA for US/Can, CETA for Can/EU): at least until TTIP was in place.

In the long-term though? It's an erosion of sovereignty and the ability of all countries to protect their best interests and their citizens from the rising storm of global market forces. Globalization, in the long view, will be a good thing for the planet - but it will be rough weather for everyone involved in our lifetimes.

Very well said. One thing I fear about in relation to these cross-pacific trade agreements is that companies will effectively be able to enforce certain procedures to countries and countries will not be able to do much anymore. In a way, TTIP and CETA feel to me like if you had a structure like the EU, only, instead of elected politicians and technocrats making the decisions (and let's be honest, they're not doing amazing either, but still), you'd have a board of powerful companies setting those regulations... in their favour.

[NED funded]

I thought maybe this was supposed to be a rebuttal to my point, or perhaps a blanket dismissal of the concept and importance of national sovereignty - and I was going to respond along those lines. Now I realize it's just your Sparknotes version of what you got from my post.

I don't get why a Canadian complains about FTAs. Canada is an exporting nation it should welcome as many trade agreements as it can. Nothing on CETA is significantly different from NAFTA. I could understand your complains or your concerns if you were European.

[Cybran]

I could understand your complains or your concerns if you were European.

CETA is garbage and will not happen. Canada has agreed to drop Visas. It's a very good day for everyone who isn't Canada.

I am really glad things worked out this well.

[Wyrt]

Is there a big difference between this agreement and the agreements that Switzerland and Norway have with the EU?

[Independent voter]

CETA is garbage and will not happen. Canada has agreed to drop Visas. It's a very good day for everyone who isn't Canada.

I am really glad things worked out this well.

So people from Bulgaria can come and work in Canada without a visa?

[Krastyn]

I don't get why a Canadian complains about FTAs. Canada is an exporting nation it should welcome as many trade agreements as it can. Nothing on CETA is significantly different from NAFTA. I could understand your complains or your concerns if you were European.

Because Canada can't compete with countries with a cheap labor pool, and weaker environmental standards.

[Wyrt]

Because Canada can't compete with countries with a cheap labor pool, and weaker environmental standards.

The EU doesn't have its own environmental standards?

[Nakotsu]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a7377796.html



Thanks to Belgium the dangerous CETA agreement will not be signed. But Canada already agreed to drop visas for Romania and Bulgaria. Sucks to be Canada.

they should sign or we go to war!

[Deleted]

they should sign or we go to war!

Vive le Quebec Belge!

[Karamaru]

But but wait Tennisace said Canada would lead Europe into a golden age of prosperity!

[Krastyn]

The EU doesn't have its own environmental standards?

Just because they have their own doesn't mean they are the same.

Furthermore, depending on the clauses in the contract, one of the bones of contention is that like with NAFTA, changing your countries environmental standards to be stricter can lead to lawsuits.

[Jotaux]

CETA is garbage and will not happen. Canada has agreed to drop Visas. It's a very good day for everyone who isn't Canada.

I am really glad things worked out this well.

What do you have against people from Bulgaria and Romania that it is detrimental to Canada to drop requiring visas from there?