Meeting of the Committee on International Trade&nbsp;on the Conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union (CETA), in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, David MARTIN (S&amp;D, UK), David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (ECR, UK), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Anne-Marie MINEUR (GUE/NGL, NL), Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR), and Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT).

Brussels

meeting

Committee on International Trade

CASTALDO, Fabio Massimo (NI, IT)

JADOT, Yannick (Greens/EFA, FR)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

MINEUR, Anne-Marie (GUE/NGL, NL)

PABRIKS, Artis (EPP, LV)

Trade in Services Agreement (T)

CAMPBELL BANNERMAN, David (ECR, UK)

Conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union (CETA): extracts from the report by Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV) at the Committee on International Trade

SOUNDBITE (English), Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, As far as the value issues, I must remind that Canada is, the most closest country probably, as far as values, and our previous experience of economics, of politics, of cooperation, outside the European continent.

SOUNDBITE (English), Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, If we conclude this very ambitious and really very modern trade agreement, Europeans will be able to save up to 12 billion (Euro) immediately. For Canadians we are the second largest trading partner in the world. After this agreement is conclude, ratified and comes into force, we would have as Europeans, a better chance to trade with Canadians on Canadian soil than than their respective neighbours, United States.

SOUNDBITE (English), Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, From day one CETA will eliminate almost all customs duties, at a value of 400 million euros for goods originating in the EU, but there are also some restrictions for free market access, so several agricultural goods considered as sensitive to us or to Canadians, will be put under quotas or excluded completely. This is a compromise between two good partners which is good for both sides.

SOUNDBITE (English), Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, Following intense public debate about which we know, and a clear position in the EP against certain aspects of ISDS (Investor-state dispute settlement) the Commission put forward a new approach for investment protection in September 2015, just recently, which was fully embraced actually by Canadian government. Not everybody would do so if we would negotiate further with somebody.

<p>SOUNDBITE (English), Artis PABRIKS (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, This new system also will make the resolution of investment disputes fairer and more transparent. As such it serves as an important step towards the EU ultimate goal of a global investment court, which was required also by many in our parliament, and I would say that this simply sets the highest standard for any kind of trade deal. If we don't want this tarde deal to come into force, we will aslo fail with a better possibility to improve investment chapters in any other trade deal.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), David MARTIN (S&amp;D, UK), CETA does have a potential to create new jobs, to attract investment, and contribute to economic growth here, but there are three areas we need further clarification on: the first was mentioned and that is investment court system. Clearly it is better than the toxic ISDS system, but does the Investment Court System answer all the criticisms that we had?

SOUNDBITE (English), David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (ECR, UK), At the moment the Member States are looking at agreement with a view of having it signed at the October EU-Canada summit, and we support this time table, the sooner the better in our view.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), I believe that is this derails, and it very well could, the EU will no longer be a credible trade negotiator, and the consequences for people and planet will be considerable, because i fe we are fragmented we cannot be a forceful standard setter of modern, high standard trade deals.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Anne-Marie MINEUR (GUE/NGL, NL), I am glad that the Commission has agreed to ratification by the national parliaments but we owe it to democracy to give the national parliaments enough time to have a proper discussion, without reservation and this means that we cannot have possible provisional implemenation before CETA has been ratified by the Member States.

SOUNDBITE (French), Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR), As far as agriculture is concerned, 65 000 tonnes of high quality beef which the Canadians could export to us. Now that will not be meat which is containing hormones, but there will be antibiotics in it, and it may actually be something which squeezes some our beef specialists out of our market.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT), I think that the investment chapter should be excluded from provisional application as indeed should be chapter 13 which is on financial services and some Member States have indeed suggested precisely this.