Prime Ministers of France and Canada endorsed CETA agreement as “win-win”

On April 11, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau endorsed the CETA agreement as a “win-win” deal. Both leaders expressed confidence in the future implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is on a three-day visit to Canada. The head of the French government first met his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau. Together, the two leaders discussed issues such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. 

The leaders of Canada and France also signed economic and climate agreements. The future of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was also discussed.

“Since it was signed and since it has been in force, trade between our two countries has increased by more than a third,” said Gabriel Attal.

For its part, Canada will continue to “demonstrate the positive impact on citizens of responsible trade and commerce between friends and allies who share the same values,” stressed Justin Trudeau.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has bound Canada and the European Union for six years. Its rejection by the French Senate three weeks ago could cause concern on the Canadian side, as it could jeopardize its ratification.

Gabriel Attal therefore took care to reiterate his support for an alliance that benefits French farmers, who criticize it, according to him.

“Trade between our two countries has increased by more than a third. They have progressed in a balanced way. As far as French agriculture is concerned, the agricultural and agri-food surplus has tripled. There would be a lot to lose for the French economy and globally for our economies if Ceta did not apply,” Attal said.

Without giving details, the Prime Minister told his Canadian counterpart that the agreement would be presented again to French MPs. For Justin Trudeau, France couldn’t count on a better partner anyway. “If a country doesn’t want to or can’t have free trade with a progressive, open, and responsible country, which country would you want to do a free trade agreement with?”

Trade between France and Canada is currently worth around 10 billion euros.

Following its approval by the European Parliament in early 2017, this trade agreement has already been provisionally applied since September of the same year. Ten European states have yet to validate it.

However, the French Senate voted against it on March 21, jeopardizing its ratification against the backdrop of the agricultural crisis. It will be examined again by the French National Assembly at the end of May. 

In addition to agriculture, Ceta includes a section on “critical” Canadian minerals for the energy transition, such as uranium and lithium, which are highly prized by Paris. But trade between the EU and Canada has also taken a new turn since Russia started the war in Ukraine.

Thanks to Ceta, Europe has been able to substitute Canadian products for the Russian ones it no longer imports.