CBC reports, “Canadian negotiators working on the Canada-EU Trade Agreement have been told they are staying in Brussels until the deal is done. Sources familiar with the negotiations say the two sides are very close and only a few details remain to be worked out. However, there is pressure to make an announcement — any kind of announcement — before mid-June.”
The article notes, “At the next G8 leaders meeting, starting June 17, U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to announce the launch of formal negotiations between his country and the European Union for their own trade deal, a move that will cause political and logistical problems for Canadian negotiators if they haven’t wrapped up their own work. CBC News has learned the federal government is strongly considering announcing in the coming weeks that Canada and the EU have concluded ‘an agreement in principle’. Sources familiar with the plan say it is a highly unusual move for such talks, but is meant as a back-up plan in the event a comprehensive agreement isn’t reached by the mid-June deadline.”
“Those (outstanding) issues are said to include access to the European beef market and changes to intellectual property regulations around pharmaceuticals. …In the case of beef, for example, just how much Canada will be allowed to ship to Europe still needs to be defined. For pharmaceuticals, the dispute is over how long brand-name drugs will enjoy patent protection before cheaper generics are allowed into a given market.”
“Another sticking point was revealed Thursday, when Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale accused the federal government of undermining her province’s position in the sensitive negotiations. Newfoundland and Labrador is under pressure to relax rules requiring a minimum amount of fish caught in its waters by foreign boats to be processed in the province.” National Post columnist John Ivison wrote last night, “It is understood that the federal government has raised the prospect of finding some kind of fiscal punishment for the province if it doesn’t back the agreement.”
The CBC adds, “Sources involved in the negotiations have told CBC News that getting the provinces on-side for the agreement would be one of the last steps before concluding negotiations — which explains the flurry of activity at the provincial level at the moment. The federal government is now asking at least some provinces to sign a letter of support for CETA, at least in principle, according to provincial sources.” While this is possible, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia have raised concerns about the patent provisions, it has been speculated that Quebec could choose to block the deal and conduct its own trade negotiations, and, as noted above, Newfoundland is pushing back on the fisheries issue.
Even if the CETA is signed two weeks from now, there would still be a ratification process of two years or more. While the Conservative ‘majority’ means it will pass in the House of Commons, it will also need the approval of the European Parliament. It will also likely require implementing legislation by the provinces. Notably, more than 50 municipal governments and associations, including Toronto, Hamilton and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, have passed motions requesting a municipal exemption from the deal.
For more, please read:
UPDATE: Will Harper announce CETA behind a security fence with drones overhead?
NEWS: Wynne government raises concerns about drug prices under CETA
NEWS: Harper loses bluff on dam-financing, fish-processing and CETA talks
WIN! Nanaimo demands permanent exemption from CETA
