Canada and the European Union are pressing to move digital trade negotiations forward before their Oct. 29-30 Montréal summit, seeking clearer rules for companies operating across both markets.
Global Affairs Canada said International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu was in Dublin on Oct. 22 to meet EU trade counterparts and continue work on the proposed agreement. The ministry said a pact could make regulation more predictable for Canadian companies in Europe and help digital technologies and services operate across both markets.
The Canadian Press reported that Sidhu described the sides as “closing in on an agreement.” MLex reported, citing EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič’s LinkedIn statement, that negotiators aimed to finish before the summit. Canada’s announcement described ongoing talks and did not announce a completed deal.
The Canadian Press reported that possible subjects include electronic contracts and signatures, paperless trade, data transfers across borders, and the treatment of duties on electronic transmissions and e-commerce. The final scope has not been announced.
Canada and the EU launched negotiations on March 5. The European Commission lists five rounds from April through September and has published an EU textual proposal. In a joint statement, the two sides said the planned agreement would complement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and help clarify rules for businesses while strengthening consumer safeguards in digital transactions. CETA has been provisionally applied since Sept. 21, 2017; EconoTimes has previously reported on Canada-EU trade under CETA.
The European Commission says the Montréal summit will shape the partnership’s next steps. It is scheduled for Oct. 29-30.
