Ceta, the free trade agreement with Canada, is in the crosshairs of senators

The anger of farmers has brought the issue of free trade treaties to the forefront. Ceta, the trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, will give rise to a battle between senators and the government on Thursday March 21

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta), the trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, applies in France “temporarily” for six years. And yet, the Senate has never ratified it, unlike the National Assembly which voted for it in 2019. “democratic problem” according to the communist senators, who therefore put Ceta on the agenda of the Luxembourg Palace next Thursday March 21. A way for Fabien Roussel’s friends to ride on the anger of farmers, while reaffirming their opposition to free trade treaties in the middle of the campaign for the European elections. The communists’ objective is clearly to have Ceta rejected.

Communists, socialists and ecologists will form a united front in the Senate, and they will find support from LR, because there are right-wing senators just as determined to derail Ceta. “We no longer want to import what is banned from producing in France, and Canadians use pesticides banned here,” argues one of them, in order to join the acts “to big declarations towards farmers”.

Pressure from agricultural unions

There is therefore a risk that Ceta will be rejected by the senators. “It amazes me that some LRs follow the communists to the detriment of our farmers and our businesses,” responds the Minister responsible for Foreign Trade Franck Riester, who “don’t despair of convincing them”. Because the government has arguments to put forward, with supporting figures: the agreement with Canada has already brought in nearly 400 million euros to French agriculture, especially the dairy and wine sectors. “The FNSEA knows it, but will say nothing, curses a senator in favor of Ceta, because it is under pressure from other agricultural unions… except that if things go wrong, it could cost all the sectors that export to Canada and not just agriculture!”

If the senators ever defeat Ceta, the government could very well act as if nothing had happened by not convening a joint committee, responsible for finding an agreement between the Senate and the Assembly. Ceta would thus continue to be applied “provisionally”. Unless an opposition group in the Assembly also puts Ceta back on the agenda. With a relative majority, this is not a win for the executive: the government would therefore prefer to avoid a negative vote from senators.

In this matter, the government received external support. The Canadian ambassador to France wrote to senators on Monday March 11. In this email that franceinfo was able to consult, he explains to them that a possible rejection of Ceta “would affect our bilateral relations.” The Canadian ambassador also praises the benefits that French farmers derive from it: “Imposing the return of tariff barriers between their cheeses, their wines and so many other tasty products, and 40 million Canadian consumers would be detrimental to them.” A communist elected official denounces this “pressure exerted by a foreign country on parliamentarians”. In short, the debate promises to be heated… And followed all the way to Ottawa.