Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1299. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding member states ratifying the EU-Canada comprehensive economic and trade agreement, CETA, in their national parliaments; and if the provisional agreement would cease to exist should a national parliament vote against national level endorsement. [35132/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force provisionally from the 21st September 2017. This means that Irish companies may now take advantage of important provisions in the Agreement including the immediate elimination of 98% of tariffs on almost all key exports, access to the Canadian procurement market, the easing of regulatory - or non-tariff - barriers and more transparent rules for market access.
CETA will enter into force once approved by Canada and the EU in line with their respective internal requirements and procedures, which for the EU party includes ratification by all Member States, in accordance with their national law. In the meantime, the parts of the CETA falling within the competence of the EU are provisionally applied as provided for by Council Decision (EU) 2017/38. However, it is important to note that the provisions relating to investment protection and the Investment Court System are excluded from provisional application.
The relevant Council Statement notes that: "if the ratification of CETA fails permanently and definitively because of a ruling of a constitutional court, or following the completion of other constitutional processes and formal notification by the government of the concerned Member State, provisional application must be and will be terminated". The EU would terminate provisional application in line with EU procedures and, as required under Article 30.7.3, submit formal written notification to Canada.
Insofar as Ireland's national ratification process is concerned, given the request by Belgium for an Opinion (1/17) from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on the compatibility of the Investment Court System in CETA with the European Treaties, I have no immediate plans to progress the ratification of the Agreement.
Ireland already has a strong trading relationship with Canada which is reflected in the €3.2 billion worth of annual trade between both countries. The value of Irish exports to Canada is worth €2.4 billion whilst the value of Irish imports from Canada is worth €780 million. In that context, we have welcomed the provisional application of CETA to provide increased opportunities for new and existing Irish-based companies trading with Canada to build and develop further these relationships, providing increased economic growth and jobs.
