Liberalizing Markets: The Cases of CETA and TTIP

Abstract

In October 2014 the negotiations about the ‘Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement’ (CETA) between Canada and the EU have been officially closed. The ‘agreement in principle’ entered its ratification phase in both jurisdictions. Even though CETA had its share of public debates since the very beginning of negotiations, it was only after the official closing of the negotiation phase that a broad and deep debate about the implications of CETA started. Both negotiation parties claim that CETA is a ‘21st century agreement’ as it has elements that go beyond traditional trade agreements. Like all trade agreements, CETA is a project in the tradition of economic liberalization. In this respect it can claim all the benefits that usually are derived from traditional economic models of cross-border trade. Critics point to the potential costs of advanced liberalization and question the political and economic rational of the agreement, or at least of parts of it. The panel will focus on critical components of CETA (such as the investment and the environment chapters) and multilevel governance of negotiating and implementing trade agreements. Attention will also be given to EU-US negotiations toward a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), providing opportunity for comparison and analysis.

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