Brussels, 29/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Several European agriculture ministers, including those from France, Spain and Italy, spoke in Brussels on Monday 28 January of their concern regarding the trade agreement between the EU and Canada but also regarding the prospect of a “mini agreement” in December in the context of the Doha Round talks at the WTO, as advocated by the major agricultural exporters (Australia and Brazil).
Talks for an EU-Canada comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) are entering their final phase but are stalling when it comes to agriculture (see EUROPE 10773). Canada hopes to obtain significant quotas for exporting beef and veal, pig meat and sweet maize into the EU. The EU wants access for exporting milk, poultry and eggs to Canada and is calling for geographic indications (GI) to be protected. Ottawa is linking the quotas it wants to European demands on milk and geographic indications, without mentioning poultry and eggs - which causes concern for some European countries.
On the other hand, the prospect of a “mini-agreement” as part of the Doha multilateral trade talks at the WTO, during the next ministerial conference of the organisation from 3 to 6 December in Bali, is of concern for a number of European agriculture ministers. The agricultural exporters of the Cairns Group, Australia and Brazil, hope that such an agreement will partially include the agricultural chapter. This, however, is not wanted by France - unless there is really something in return - or by Spain, which has fears concerning the green box.
Singapore. After nearly three years of talks, the EU reached a political agreement with Singapore on 16 December with a view to a future free trade agreement. Dacian Ciolos said that the result was very positive for the agricultural sector. There is little to be said about market access as Singapore does not have an agricultural sector. The EU, therefore, did not have a key sector to be defended. On the contrary, the key point for the EU was of a proactive kind - concerning geographical indications. The agreement provides in particular for: - the creation of a GI register, a high level of protection, coexistence with earlier brands, administrative protection (ex officio) at the borders, coexistence with prior use in restricted cases with significant anteriority (before 2004 if in good faith, before 1994 in the other cases). The indication of real origin is compulsory in this case. The commissioner went on to conclude by saying (our translation): “For our key names, our interests in the GI chapter are safeguarded as it is foreseen that the provisional agreement only takes effect when the protection of a list of key names is not only in place but also accepted by the EU”. (LC with EH/transl.jl)