#CETA: Liberal success of Justin Trudeau and Cecilia Malmström

ALDE welcomes that the final details have been worked out of the trade agreement between Canada and the EU, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The text has been undergoing a legal check for more than a year and now the procedure for ratification can finally start.

ALDE Leader Guy Verhofstadt commented on it:
"I warmly congratulate liberal Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and the Canadian liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for successfully completing the legal review of CETA. Now it is up to the legislative bodies to swiftly examine the final text and to deliver on its ratification. My group is committed to do its constructive part. It is particularly encouraging that both sides found a way to upgrade the investment chapter. It is critical CETA paves the way to a more fair and transparent dispute settlement system, with a permanent institutionalised tribunal as the Parliament and my Group have requested."

MEP Marietje Schaake, ALDE Coordinator in INTA, added:
“This trade agreement makes sure that tariffs disappear and procedures become more transparent and predictable. An essential benefit for Europe is that European companies will have more access to government procurement in Canada, which is currently not the case. Canada’s economy is bigger than Russia’s and is an important market for European companies. Together with Canada we can work together to strengthen the international rules-based trading system and set high global standards.”

Now that the final text for CETA is on the table, the agreement will have to be ratified by the EU member states, the European Parliament and the Canadian Parliament before it can enter into force.

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