BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron downplayed on Friday the French Senate’s rejection of the free trade treaty between Canada and the European Union (CETA), saying that this vote would have no consequences on the application of the treaty, a ” very good agreement” for agriculture.
The French president, who spoke at the end of a European summit in Brussels, deplored the “demagoguery” of the senators who opposed the ratification of the treaty, believing that their initiative “does not help[ait] not” French agriculture.
“It is a vote which has no consequence on the provisional implementation of CETA, then the government will have to define the timetable with the National Assembly. (…) Today we have a text which is progressing and who is working among the 27″, he declared in response to a question on the subject.
“This is the beginning of these new generation agreements that we are defending,” he argued, appealing to the French agricultural world.
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“Look at the figures, the report is extremely clear, it (CETA) is very good for milk, it is very good for cheese, it is very good for wine,” he continued, considering that the “risks”, particularly on the importation of beef, had been ruled out.
“To put all trade agreements in the same bag is demagoguery. This is why I regret this vote and I think that it does not help the cause (…), it does not help our agriculture”, concluded the Head of State.
French senators opposed Thursday by 211 votes to 44 the ratification of the free trade treaty, a snub for the executive as the European elections approach.
This controversial agreement, concluded in 2014, ratified in 2017 by the European Parliament and already partially implemented, provides for the removal of customs duties on 98% of products traded between the EU and Canada.
French farmers, who are maintaining pressure on the government to obtain aid in the face of the crisis in the sector, denounce unfair competition, particularly due to less restrictive health standards in Canada. A situation which also worries environmentalists.
The bill authorizing the ratification of the treaty was adopted at first reading, not without difficulty, in July 2019 by the National Assembly (266 votes to 213). It must be voted on on second reading on a date which has not yet been determined.
(Written by Sophie Louet with contributions from Bertrand Boucey and John Irish, edited by Kate Entringer)
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