CETA: EU and Canada agree on new approach on investment in trade agreement

Abstract:

The European Commission and the Canadian Government agreed on 29 February 2016 to include a new approach on investment protection and investment dispute settlement in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

A permanent and institutionalised dispute settlement tribunal would be set up, with judges appointed in advance by the EU and Canada, and an appeal mechanism put in place.

The negotiations on a free trade deal between the European Union and Canada were concluded in 2014 but with further legal details to be settled.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Canada's Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement on the 29 February 2016 that the legal review of CETA had been 'completed' and that both Canada and the EU were hoping that the controversial free trade deal would be signed in 2016 and enter into force in 2017.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: CETA: the EU-Canada free trade agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/ceta-the-eu-canada-free-trade-agreement/

ESO: Background information: Negotiations on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) concluded http://www.europeansources.info/record/negotiations-on-the-eu-canada-comprehensive-economic-and-trade-agreement-ceta-concluded/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/16/446, 29.02.16: Joint statement: Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-16-446_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/445, 29.02.16: Factsheet: Main elements of CETA http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-445_en.htm

Politico, 29.02.16: EU and Canada revive stalled trade deal http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-and-canada-revive-stalled-trade-deal-malmstrom-ngo/

Euractiv, 29.02.16: EU, Canada change ISDS clause, get closer to ‘gold-plated trade deal’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/ceta/news/eu-canada-change-isds-clause-get-closer-to-gold-plated-trade-deal/

EUObserver, 29.02.16: EU and Canada agree on dispute settlement court https://euobserver.com/economic/132502

Deutsche Welle, 29.02.16: EU, Canada reach breakthrough on CETA trade deal http://dw.com/p/1I4VM

CBC.ca: Politics, 29.02.16: Canada moves a step closer to ratifying 'gold-plated' trade deal with EU http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-europe-trade-deal-amended-1.3468802

Canada: Government: Policy areas: Trade and Investment: Trade Negotiations and Agreements http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/eu-ue/policies-politiques/trade_agreements-accords_commerciaux.aspx?lang=eng

European Commission: DG Trade: Policy: Countries and Regions: Canada http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/canada/

Politico, 07.03.16: Cecilia Malmström finds her trade groove http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-malmstroem-trade-court/

EurActiv, 08.03.16: France sees the EU-Canada agreement as a ‘template’ for TTIP http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/france-sees-the-eu-canada-agreement-as-a-template-for-ttip/

EurActiv, 29.04.16: CETA runs into trouble with Dutch, Walloon parliaments http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/ceta-runs-into-trouble-with-dutch-walloon-parliaments/

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