Event Summary:
Summary by
Anton Malkin, Balsillie School of International Affairs – University of Waterloo
Speech By Anthony Joyce Cary
British High Commissioner to Canada
Toronto Branch Event
14 May, 2009
On the morning of Thursday, May 14, 2009 Anthony Joyce Cary, British High Commissioner to Canada gave a breakfast-session talk about the nascent free trade agrement negotiations between Canada and the European Union. The speech, titled “Strengthening Canada-EU relations: the negotiation for a deeper economic partnership,” described the possibilities and obstacles to deepening formal economic ties between Canada and Europe. The High Commissioner noted the reasons for initiating the negotiations from the perspective of both sides, as well as the broader significance of the proposed deal.
He began by stating that this initiative had emerged as part of a pivotal moment for the global economy—a moment when Canada is leading the way in resisting protectionist sentiments and showing willingness to think in terms of long-term global prosperity. The speech stressed the benefits of economic openness and the ways in which the European experience can serve as a useful example thereof. The High Commissioner went on to describe how European integration was a fundamental turning point for the continent. After centuries of perennial hostilities and balance of power politics the process of economic integration proved to be a “stunning success,” helping Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Eastern Europe to a similar extent, modernize their economies as they transitioned from authoritarian forms of government.
According to the speech, an obvious expectation for Canada in concluding a trade deal with the EU is a reduction of economic dependence on the US market. The EU is an appropriate choice in this respect, as it is already Canada’s second most important trading partner in services. To be sure, exports in services to the EU can increase by as much as 24 percent if equivalent market liberalization is carried out on both sides. However, Cary noted, recognizing the benefits of increased trade is a small first step; certain key provisions must be implemented for the Canada-EU agreement to work. Some of these include agreements on intellectual property, provisions on technical barriers to trade, provisions on customs, mutual recognition of professional qualification, open access to public procurement, binding state dispute mechanisms and, most importantly, liberalization of trade in services.
The speech also highlighted that negotiators have been instructed to conclude an agreement relatively quickly. Indeed, the European representatives have been told to do so in less than two years—a markedly short time given the difficulties that are certain to arise. For Canada, the challenges are abundantly clear. The division of economic powers between the provinces and the federal government make it more difficult for Canada to strike a balance between stakeholder interests. The High Commissioner explained that provincial representatives—and most crucially Quebec—will have informal but crucial input into the proposed agreement. Because Canada, unlike its European counterparts, cannot share the burden of responsibility with a supranational authority, akin to the EU, when explaining to provincial leaders why their respective interests have been compromised, the negotiations will have to be navigated with great care. On the whole, he concluded, there needs to be sufficient political will to accept certain losses and regional concessions to assure greater prosperity for Canada as a whole.
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