CETA

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was concluded in 2014 between the European Union and Canada. It entered into provisional application in September 2017.

The agreement covers most aspects of new generation trade deals, including intellectual property, public procurements, regulatory cooperation, services and elimination of tariffs.

It also includes an investment chapter with a revised investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism, dubbed investment court system. Many critics on both sides of the Atlantic say that this new system is largely window-dressing and does not address the core of the problem behind investor-state dispute measures which enable foreign corporations to sue states if they deem their profits or investment potentials affected by new laws or changes in policy.

Photo: Council of Canadians

(March 2020)

Techdirt | 25-Jan-2015
Even if CETA is rejected in Europe, claims under the ISDS chapter would still be possible up to three years afterwards for investments made during the provisional period.
Stop TTIP and TTIP Unfairhandelbar | 14-Jan-2015
An overwhelming majority of Europeans has spoken out against ISDS in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Le Monde | 27-Dec-2014
La timidité du gouvernement français a conduit à laisser l’Union européenne avaliser un choix qu’elle regrettera peut-être dans quelques années : l’inclusion d’un mécanisme d’arbitrage privé dans l’accord commercial CETA.
EurActiv | 16-Dec-2014
Gus Van Harten tells EurActiv that the EU should explore the option of an international arbitration court and use Australia, not Canada as a benchmark.
Public Citizen | 12-Dec-2014
The European Commission’s claim that threats posed by the investor-state dispute settlement system can be fixed by “improving” ISDS provisions in trade pacts has already been proved false, says Public Citizen
FOEE | 4-Dec-2014
New research today reveals that European governments have already paid at least €3.5 billion to private investors due to a clause in international trade deals.
InfOGM | 3-Dec-2014
En France, l’Assemblée nationale a adopté une résolution concernant l’accord de libre échange entre l’Union européenne et le Canada (CETA). Objectif : mieux préciser certaines clauses, en enlever d’autres et faire en sorte que les Parlements puissent le ratifier.
Globe and Mail | 2-Dec-2014
The fate of Canada’s landmark trade agreement with the European Union, known as CETA, may hinge on an obscure case due to come before the European Court of Justice that relates to a similar deal the EU recently struck with Singapore.
EurActiv | 28-Nov-2014
German Minister of Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel is clashing with his own party over the EU’s planned free trade agreement with Canada (CETA), calling on Bundestag members to approve the deal despite the controversial investor protection provision.
CUPE | 19-Nov-2014
A new report warns that controversial investor protection rules in the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union could expose Canada to a new wave of corporate lawsuits that restrict the powers of all levels of governments.