Canada has been a vital trading partner for the European Union for a long time. Almost a quarter of Canadian investment abroad is in the EU, and equally almost a quarter of foreign investment in Canada comes from the EU. The EU and Canada concluded a Framework agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation, in 1976.
The decision to launch negotiations on a EU-Canada Free Trade Agreement was taken at the EU-Canada summit, on 6 May 2009, in Prague. The European Services Forum has closely monitored these negotiations since then. From our point of view, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Canada concluded with Mexico and the USA, in 1994, should serve as an example for the agreement to be achieved between the EU and Canada.
Both the EU and Canada support an open international trading system regulated and negotiated within the framework of the World Trade Organisation.
For further details see the following links:
- Press release: Canada-European Union: negotiations toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement
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EU-Canada Summit Declaration of 6 May 2009 and the European Commission’s press release of 27 April 2009.
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The European Commission’s DG Trade launched a questionnaire on the EU-Canada negotiations, which was to be filled in by 6 July 2009.
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ESF presentation at the CEPS Event “The new Economic and Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada” on 29 June 2009, mentioning the priorities for the European services industry.
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Presse Article on CEPS event with Quebec Premier Charest.
- On 22 October 2012, ESF signed a joint letter with BUSINESSEUROPE, the Canadian Services Coalition (CSC), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canada Europe Round Table (CERT), calling for the conclusion of the CETA negotiations, and listing the major prioroties for businesses in this trade deal.
More: Interview in “viEUws” of Trade Commissioner De Gucht on CETA, the EU-Canada Trade Agreement
DG Trade web site on Canada, on trade statistics with Canada
