CEFIC European Chemical Industry Council : joins forces with EU industry for strong conclusion on CETA trade deal

Brussels, 13 January 2017 - In a letter to the European Parliament, Cefic joins leading industry associations through the Alliance for a Competitive European Industry (ACEI) to underline the importance of the CETA trade deal for the future of an economically strong Europe.

European industry calls on members of Parliament to endorse this highly ambitious trade agreement at the anticipated February 2017 plenary session. It cites CETA's positive impact on trade and investment between two of the world's most advanced economies for growth and jobs as a compelling reason. Chemicals trade alone with Canada amounted to 2.5 billion euros, with an annual trade surplus of almost one billion euros for the EU in 2015.

Click here to read the letter

'The positive signal from the Parliament this week in the ENVI committee gives us hope that the common understanding about CETA being a high standard agreement, that will only bring benefits and safeguard health and the environment, has been well heard. We hope the February deadline will keep this momentum going' said Marco Mensink, Cefic Director General and Chairman of ACEI.

The EU and Canada already trade without CETA in place, except the associated cost of doing business is unnecessarily high without this critical agreement.

The letter clearly outlines the benefits of CETA:

• The elimination of customs duties and reduced technical barriers could increase trade between the EU and Canada by nearly 25% and lift EU output by about €12 billion a year.
• CETA will give an immediate boost to SMEs by eliminating duties at entry into force for most products.
• Public procurement will also bring value to the EU economy
• Both economies will benefit from their similar Intellectual Property Rights

Background

The Alliance for a Competitive European Industry (ACEI) was formed in 2004 by 11 major European industry sector associations and BusinessEurope. The common objective of its members is to promote the competitiveness of European industry on a global scale. The Alliance encourages a policy and regulatory framework that supports that objective, reinforcing and complementing BusinessEurope work in this respect by providing a sectoral perspective.

Contact: Dervla Gleeson, Cefic Media Relations Manager - [e-mail] / [phone]