Here’s what the letter says:
38 Degrees members voted in our
thousands to say that after Brexit
Britain should negotiate trade deals
that put people, not big business,
first. [8]
CETA threatens our food,
environment and democracy - and the
worst bits of it will apply to Britain
for 20 years after we leave the EU.
So let's make sure we block it while we
can.
Thanks for being involved,
Bex, Maddy, Laura and the 38 Degrees
team
PS: Here’s six reasons why CETA is
almost a carbon copy of TTIP, another
dangerous trade deal [9]:
1. It contains many of the same dodgy
terms, like allowing corporations to sue
our governments if our policies and
regulations dare interfere with their
profits.
2. 80% of American companies have an arm
in Canada, so this deal is TTIP by
stealth. Those companies could start
lawsuits against our government at the
taxpayers’ expense.
3. Experts are warning CETA threatens
regulations that protect our
environment, food production, and access
to affordable medicines.
4. Like TTIP, it’s designed to encourage
privatisation wherever possible – in our
healthcare, energy, water and transport.
5. Worst of all, if CETA passes easily
it basically lays out a golden path for
TTIP to pass too.
6. The EU has quietly asked Canada to
rework some of the thorniest bits of
CETA - such as corporate courts -
because officials are worried that
public opposition is growing.
NOTES:
[1] This is a good explanation of the
story on CETA so far, and what the worst
bits of the deal are.
War on Want: What is CETA?
http://waronwant.org/what-ceta
Here’s another good guide to what’s in
CETA:
Global Justice Now: What is CETA?
http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/what-ceta
[2] Politics: The Canadian trade deal
which will let in TTIP by the back door:
http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2016/09/01/canadian-trade-deal-will-let-in-ttip-by-the-back-door
[3] This article from the Financial
Times is behind a paywall.
“European and Canadian authorities are
aiming to ratify the CETA at talks in
Brussels next month but political
resistance in Austria and Belgium
presents a fresh threat to the pact as
it cannot come into force without
unanimous support from all 28 EU member
states. The leadership of the Austrian
government is divided on CETA.”
https://www.ft.com/content/caa1f46d-7792-3c24-90aa-d0e9c7d248d1
[4] Politico: Europe nears trade deal
with Canada:
http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-nears-trade-deal-with-canada-keeps-ttip-on-life-support-ceta-europe/
[5] This article from Politico is behind
a paywall.
Junior economy Minister Harald Mahrer:
“We expect that this declaration will be
finished by next week”
http://www.politico.eu/pro/austria-to-agree-on-canada-deal-within-next-few-days/
[6] Global Justice Now: CETA: TTIP’s
little brother A guide to the
Comprehensive Economic and Trade
Agreement (CETA) between the EU and
Canada:
http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/resources/ceta-ttip-little-brother-global-justice-now.pdf
[7] This blog gives a good outline on
why CETA will weaken our regulations,
protections and increase privatisation:
Citizen Action Monitor: CETA: What it is
and why it’s bad for Canada:
https://citizenactionmonitor.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/ceta-what-it-is-and-why-its-bad-for-canada/
This article discusses how dangerous
CETA is because 80% of US companies have
subsidiaries in Canada:
Public Citizen: Tens of Thousands of
U.S. Firms Would Obtain New Powers to
Launch Investor-State Attacks against
European Policies via CETA and TTIP:
https://www.citizen.org/documents/EU-ISDS-liability.pdf
Here’s the story about the EU asking
Canada to re-work some of CETA:
CBC: EU quietly asks Canada to rework
trade deal's thorny investment clause:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-europe-trade-isds-ceta-1.3412943
[8] 38 Degrees: DIY Brexit results,
trade section:
http://diybrexit.38degrees.org.uk/
[9] 38 Degrees: 6 things you need to
know about CETA
https://id.38degrees.org.uk/clicks/link/13600/fl777v8aqon69m708d8x7c4z6oyzm0k6?url="">