Brussels, 05/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Although both the EU and Canada deny that they are responsible for blocking the negotiations, each blaming the other, they remain committed to tying up a deal before the end of the year.
Within arm's length of an agreement in February, the EU did not manage to complete the talks with Canada for a comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) before starting talks with the USA for a transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP). However, refuting the allegations that the CETA negotiations have been put on the back burner, Brussels has not given up on concluding an agreement before the end of the summer - provided that Ottawa proves ready to break the deadlock that has existed since the ministerial meeting between European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht and Canadian International Trade Minister Ed Fast last February.
Quoted by several media, the EU's ambassador to Canada - Matthias Brinkmann - said on 3 July that he had high hopes that a deal could be finalised before the end of the summer. The EU remains “fully committed” to the negotiations and wants to conclude them as soon as possible, but “it takes two to tango”, he said, suggesting that the ball is in Canada's court. Brinkmann also said he was confident that, despite the persistence of differences since the initial deadline of December 2012, the parties will not walk away from the agreement even though the EU-US negotiations are now beginning. “Too much has been invested”, he insisted. While the lion's share of the work has been done, Brinkmann confirmed that the agricultural chapter and the issue of market access for European cheese to Canada and the opening of the European beef and pork market remain the principal stumbling blocks. “We have a generous offer which I think meets the demands” of the Canadian beef industry, Brinkmann said, without giving further detail.
On the Canadian side, Ottawa rejects responsibility for the deadlock. “Canada has made firm offers in good faith that address the EU's key interests”, said Fast's spokesperson, Rudy Husny. “It remains our hope that we will soon achieve an agreement”, he added - but implying that Ottawa will only conclude an agreement if it is in line with Canada's priorities. European and Canadian negotiators could meet again in Ottawa next week. (EH/transl.fl)