Brussels, 28/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European and Canadian workers' associations are calling for a high standard to be set in the chapter on employment rights in the future trade agreement.
Although negotiations for a full bilateral agreement on the economy and trade between the EU and Canada are continuing in their final phase, the workers' associations of both regions, lacking information, are putting their heads above the parapet to call for strict provisions on employment rights.
In a joint declaration published on 24 January, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) state their view that “any agreement is only acceptable if based on a high standard, setting a benchmark for future agreements worldwide, and certainly not undermining existing conditions” relating to employment rights, public policy latitude and the provision of public services.
“Negotiated between two advanced economic regions, this agreement must be Gold Standard or it will set a precedent for other negotiations which will see a wave of privatisation of essential services and the exploitation of workers - not something that we will accept”, warned the secretary general of ETUC, Bernadette Ségol, in a press release. (EH/transl.fl)
More time to reach agreement. Initially promised to the end of December 2012, then early 2013, the agreement concluding the negotiations for the CETA “could be a question of months rather than weeks”, the Canadian Globe and Mail intimated on Monday 28 January. The talks, which continued in Brussels last week, are still stumbling over market access. An agreement is still awaiting an arrangement linking the six most controversial chapters: tariff quotas for sensitive agricultural products, pharmaceutical patents and geographical indications, access to public procurement contracts, investment, services (financial services, culture and “mode 4”) and the automotive package (tariffs, standards and rules of origin). As regards the Canadian side, “dairy products, cars, telecommunications, pharmaceutical products and mineral resources are at the heart of the economic policy of the country”, said Globe and Mail. The two sides hope to smooth out their differences of opinion by the end of the month at the latest, ahead of a further ministerial meeting between Commissioner Karel De Gucht and his Canadian opposite number Ed Fast, to be held in Ottawa on 6 and 7 February, in order to make the last political finishing touches required to finalise an agreement. “The quality of the content of the agreement is more important than the timetable”, Fast stressed this weekend.
Agriculture is an especially difficult issue. In particular, the parties differ over access to the market, with Canada putting forward what the EU feels is an overly ambitious request concerning tariff quotas for its exports of beef and pork, and too low an offer for European exports of dairy products (cheeses). The question of rules of origin to reduce tariffs on cars and textiles is also problematic, with one of the stumbling blocks being the level of Canadian and European content of vehicles manufactured in Canada required to ensure duty-free access for vehicles shipped from assembly factories in Canada, Globe and Mail explains. Another tricky issue is the EU's request for an additional two years of protection for each patent for its branded drugs in Canada. The chapters on investment and public procurement have also been difficult to settle, as the EU particularly wants better access to the telecommunications sector. Lastly, the EU wants better access to the resources and energy sector in Canada, which is restricted at province level. (EH/transl.fl)