Canada’s trade deal with the European Union has been operating in draft mode for five years as of Wednesday, raising doubts it will ever be formally implemented.
A dispute over how corporations can sue governments remains unresolved. Yet Canadian trade experts say the deal remains a major win in an era of supply-chain shocks and pushback against globalization.
It’s meant more exports of everything from seafood to automotive parts to Europe, which has boosted its pharmaceutical and meat exports to Canada.Lawrence Herman, a Toronto trade lawyer, said key parts of the deal around tariffs, digital commerce and public procurement are in place.“I don't think CETA will ever be officially ratified.”
Labour and environmental activists have argued this gives up sovereignty of everything from consumer protection to worker safety. But her office pointed out that Canada and EU countries will appoint members of the proposed tribunal, who will be "subject to rigorous ethical commitments, as well as a robust appellate mechanism."
“As Trump came and went and protectionism became the order of the day, and we had all these difficulties with China, it was nice to have that relationship with Europe as a bit of a hedge,” he said.