Trudeau revels in signing Canada-EU free trade deal
Accord nearly scrapped by regional Wallonia government in Belgium
BRUSSELS— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revelled in a long-awaited moment Sunday — signing Canada’s free trade deal with the European Union, but not before recognizing the challenges ahead to bring it fully into force.
Trudeau expressed hope that the so-called provisional application of the deal — approval only by the Canadian and European parliaments but not Europe’s 28 states and myriad regional governments — might happen within months.
That, said Trudeau, would result in 98 per cent of the deal coming into force. That’s much higher than the 90-per cent estimate that most European and Canadian officials have said would accompany provisional application of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as CETA.
Trudeau had initially expected to sign the deal in Brussels days ago, but the restive Belgian region of Wallonia nearly killed it because its opposition to the pact’s investor-state dispute settlement mechanism gave it a veto under Belgium’s complicated constitution.
After seven arduous years of negotiation, Trudeau joined presidents of the European Council and European Commission, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, and signed the massive 1,600-page pact and its accompanying strategic partnership agreement.
The road to full ratification remains long. After Trudeau and his EU counterparts took a moment Sunday to revel in the milestone, the prime minister was willing to acknowledge it would take more than ceremony to fully ratify the deal.
“The work is only just beginning right now,” Trudeau said.
“It’s not just signing the accords, as difficult and important as that is. It’s about the followup, that we continue to demonstrate and give tools to small- and medium-sized businesses.”
Trudeau didn’t betray a hint of bitterness toward the socialist regional government of Wallonia, led by Paul Magnette, which picked up the antiCETA baton that had flourished previously in France, Germany and Austria.
The latest obstacle to CETA was removed Friday when Wallonia officially voted to withdraw its opposition to the deal, paving the way for Trudeau’s trip.
“The fact that, throughout, people were asking tough questions of a deal that will have a significant impact on our economies, and giving us the opportunity to demonstrate that that impact will be positive, is a good thing,” Trudeau said.
“That is what a democracy is: we need to have a whole chorus of different voices, able to share their concerns.”
International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland called it a great day for Europe.
More than a week ago, Freeland walked out of talks in Belgium, saying it appeared the EU was incapable of signing an agreement.
“OK, we did it!” she blurted out during a photo opportunity following the signing ceremony.
The deal’s supporters say it will boost trade by billions through cuts in tariffs across a broad swath of sectors including agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the auto industry.
But opposition among anti-trade activists and left-wing political parties in some European countries has been fierce and nearly blocked the deal. On a sleepy Sunday morning in the largely shuttered EU capital, Trudeau’s entourage was greeted by a small but vocal group of protesters at the European Council.
Trudeau acknowledged the discontent, but said political leaders had to work to overcome it.
“That leadership that we were able to show between Canada and Europe is not just something that will reassure our own citizens, but should be an example to the world of how we can move forward on trade deals that do genuinely benefit everyone,” Trudeau said.
With the Liberals and Conservatives both favouring the deal, its approval will sail through Parliament. But Europe is another matter. The European Parliament must approve CETA. Before leaving Brussels, Trudeau met with its leader, Martin Schulz, the German Social Democrat, and thanked him for his leadership on CETA. The European Parliament’s approval is expected by many to come in early 2017.
But the deal must be ratified by the EU’s 28 countries and several more smaller regional governments, such as Wallonia. That process could take years, and could be derailed.