Fjellner: Fler länder kan vilja sänka Ceta

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a free free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. When implemented, the agreement will eliminate 98% of the tariffs between Canada and the EU. The negotiations were concluded in August 2014. All 28 European Union member states have approved CETA with Belgium being the final country to approve. Currently CETA is awaiting signing. The European Council has confirmed it has adopted the decision to sign. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada traveled to Brussels on 30 October 2016 to sign on behalf of Canada. The EU claims the treaty will lead to savings of just over half a billion euros in taxes for EU exporters every year, mutual recognition in regulated professions such as architects, accountants and engineers, and easier transfers of company staff and other professionals between the EU and Canada. The European Commission claims CETA will create a more level playing field between Canada and the EU on intellectual property rights. Critics oppose the treaty on the grounds that it will weaken European consumer rights, including those concerning food safety, and that tariffs are already very low. It has also been criticized as a boon only for big business and multinational corporations, while risking net-losses, unemployment, and environmental damage impacting individual citizens. The deal also includes a controversial investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. The agreement has prompted protests in Europe and Canada.