Orgalime and ACEI industry partners speak out in support of CETA ahead of European Parliament vote

In the pipeline since 2009, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed by both sides on 30 October 2016. Before it can take effect, however, it must also be ratified by the European Parliament – with the final plenary vote scheduled for February 2017. In order to make clear our strong support for CETA in advance of the vote, Orgalime has joined forces with partners in the Alliance for a Competitive European Industry (ACEI) to co-sign a letter to MEPs urging them to get behind this ambitious and forward-looking agreement.

CETA is of importance to Europe’s manufacturing industry. By eliminating customs duties and lowering technical barriers, it can help increase trade in goods and services – by up to 25%, according to European Commission forecasts. The opportunities will extend right across the economy.  As a cross-sector platform created to promote the competitiveness of European industry, the ACEI wholeheartedly supports CETA as a step towards creating a level playing field between the EU and third countries. Orgalime and its partners are convinced that a CETA success story would provide a welcome boost to Europe’s manufacturers – and to the EU economy as a whole. 

Perhaps even more important, however, is the fact that if CETA fails, the EU’s credibility as a reliable party for concluding trade agreements will be seriously undermined.