Source: AFP
The French government on Thursday faces a perilous vote on a controversial trade deal between the EU and Canada in the Senate, where an unlikely left-right alliance hopes to torpedo the pact.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been provisionally in force since 2017, but requires ratification in all European Union member states to take full effect.
President Emmanuel Macron and his centrist parliamentary allies managed to pass the deal in the National Assembly in 2019 by a narrow margin, but support from the upper house — where they are in a clear minority — is essential for ratification.
The French Communist Party placed the treaty on Thursday’s Senate agenda, with the stated aim of defeating it.
Accusing the government of treating parliament “like a doormat”, Communist senator Fabien Gay announced “a political blitz” for Thursday.
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In a rare temporary alliance, the leadership of the conservative Les Republicains (LR) party, which has a majority in the Senate, has also signaled its opposition to the trade pact.
“We need free trade agreements, but not at the expense of our sovereignty, especially on food,” said Bruno Retailleau, LR leader in the Senate.
Like all EU trade agreements, CETA was negotiated by the EU Commission, but also needs approval from each EU member state.
Seventeen of them have ratified the agreement, with the process in 10 countries — including France — still ongoing. Britain ratified the deal while still in the EU.
The Cyprus parliament is the only one that has categorically rejected the agreement, due to a dispute over a geographical indication for halloumi cheese.
However, under EU rules, such a vote only affects the implementation of CETA if a government formally notifies the EU of the rejection, which Cyprus has not done. Instead, he plans to resubmit the proposal later.
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If CETA is rejected in the French Senate, Macron is expected to do the same.
“Warning Shot”
The government, meanwhile, has accused the opposition of weaponizing CETA ahead of June’s European elections seen as a key test of Macron’s popularity.
“Let’s not be naive,” Macron’s foreign trade minister, Frank Rister, quipped, saying the trade deal was “tooled up in the midst of the European election campaign.”
Source: AFP
While the French government defends CETA, there is also plenty of opposition, particularly on food safety, with critics pointing to Canada’s laxer approach to genetically modified organisms, hormones, pesticides and herbicides and lower welfare standards for animals compared to the EU.
There have been angry protests in many EU countries against the deal, including by climate activists.
It was also criticized by farmers and industry sectors, particularly over Canadian market access and regulations.
“Agriculture in central Canada is completely industrial and operates without rules,” said LR senator and professional farmer Laurent Diplomb, saying he hopes to “fire a warning shot” in the EU’s direction.
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Meanwhile, the senators said they have received an unusual amount of attention from companies, associations, the government and the Canadian embassy hoping to influence them.
“I’ve never seen this much lobbying before a vote in the Senate,” said a member of the upper house who declined to be named.
While the negative would not kill CETA by itself, the French government is concerned about the impact of any rejection.
“We have to be careful not to send a negative message about a deal that produces benefits,” said a government source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Supporters of the trade deal say French exports to Canada have increased by 33% between 2017 and 2023, while imports have increased by 35%, thanks to the deal.
Wine and dairy producers are among the main beneficiaries, the government says.
Source: AFP