Labour groups and civil society concerns on EU-Canada trade deal ignored

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Today, over 450 public interest groups from across Europe and Canada, including the Trade Union Congress, published an open letter urging legislators to vote against CETA. The letter has been published because civil society concerns are being ignored and certainly not addressed or responded to.

On 18 October EU countries, including the United Kingdom, voted to ratify the Canada-EU trade deal known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).  Should EU parliamentarians give the trade deal the green light in the New Year, ratification votes in national and regional parliaments across Europe, including Westminster, would follow.  CETA will be voted on in the International Trade (INTA) Committee of the European Parliament on Jan 23–24. The plenary vote in the European parliament will be in February. 

  • 29 Nov 2016
TTIP-CETA

A record 3.5 million people from all over Europe have signed a petition against CETA and its twin agreement, the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Over 2,100 local and regional governments have declared themselves TTIP- and CETA-free. Constitutional challenges against CETA have been filed in Germany and Canada.

Prospect members can use the open letter to draw attention to concerns with their own MP’s and MEP’s

The open letter outlines serious concerns, some of which are:

  • CETA severely limits governments’ ability to create, expand, and regulate public services and reverse failed liberalisations and privatisations.
  • In stark contrast to the rights for corporations, CETA’s provisions on labour rights and sustainable development cannot be effectively enforced through sanctions.
  • CETA would empower thousands of corporations to sue governments over legitimate and non-discriminatory measures to protect people and the planet.
  • CETA’s Investment Court System (ICS) grants highly enforceable rights to investors – but no corresponding obligations. It does not enable citizens, communities or trade unions to bring a claim when a company violates environmental, labour, health, safety, or other rules.

Trade agreements in a post-Brexit landscape

Following the UK vote to leave the EU, the UK has to rethink its entire trade policy. Formal negotiations on new trade arrangements cannot begin until the UK exits the EU. Trade unions and civil society organisations have warned that CETA could be a model for a post-Brexit trade deals. These deals will not only cover trade in goods but also investment and services.

According to the Trade Justice Movement (TJM), “the development of the UK’s new trade policy provides a huge opportunity to ensure trade works for people and planet. Getting our approach right for existing treaties will help to shape our future trade arrangements. And we can start now by making a fundamental change to the excessive rights offered to companies in existing Bilateral Investment Treaties.”

Further information on trade deals

  • Video: ITUC's Economic and Social Policy Officer, Yorgos Altintzis, talks about examples of free trade agreements leading to improved conditions for workers, and outlines key criteria for trade agreements that can benefit workers (including for example, labour inspection, maternal rights etc)
  • Video: Additional thoughts, by TJM on the post Brexit trade deal negotiations 
  • Other Prospect information on trade deals includes a blog post on trade deal negotiations, briefing on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and an update circular on health and safety and environmental regulation in context of the trade deals.