The negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA) were completed yesterday. Welcoming this development, Neale Richmond, European Committee of the Regions (CoR) rapporteur on the Trade for All proposals, said "We need to ensure that this, and all future trade agreements, maintain or improve standards with regards to consumer, environment and workers' protection and that it will enable all EU regions and cities to fairly benefit from the expected growth and investment opportunities."
During the adoption of his draft opinion at the CoR Commission for Economic Policy yesterday, the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Councillor proposed that all future trade agreements should include:
- increased transparency;
- consultation with regional parliaments;
- clear distinctions on what trade agreements cover;
- unlimited rights for regional and local authorities to regulate and decide how public services should be provided;
- regional impact assessments before trade agreements are concluded.
Turning to the importance of SMEs, Councillor Richmond said:
"SMEs are the backbone of regional and local development. The modifications to CETA – and the EU's new approach to trade strategies more broadly - seek to make it easier for European enterprises to take advantage of the opportunities provided such agreements. From a local perspective, this is a step forward and must be welcomed."