CAN-EU trade: What nine years of CETA show about diversification

Policy Options notes that CETA eliminated nearly 99 per cent of bilateral tariffs after it was enacted in 2017[1]. The authors argue that with Europe, free trade agreements are just one part of a broader strategy that must include strategic procurement partnerships[1].The authors write that goods exports to the EU-27 jumped in 2018 after CETA took effect[1]. They also describe the ceiling that tariff cuts alone seemingly hit[1].On public procurement, the piece says it has proven easier for European firms to win municipal transit contracts in Canada than for Canadian firms to win tenders in Europe[1].The authors point to proposals that include jointly buying 50 De Havilland water bombers and opening the €150-billion SAFE defence fund[1] to Canada.The article is by Ricardo Chejfec, whom Policy Options lists as a research director at the Institute for Research on Public Policy[1], and IRPP research associate Georges Rigas.The authors write that the next challenge is equipping Canada with the logistics and mutual regulatory recognition that allow global buyers to turn to us[1].Separately, the European Commission reports that nine EU Member States still need to ratify CETA at national level[2]. In March, the two sides formally launched the negotiations on an EU-Canada Digital Trade Agreement[3], according to the Commission.