Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the ratification process for the CETA trade agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36793/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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At the 16th EU-Canada Summit on 30 October 2016 in Brussels, EU leaders and the Canadian Prime Minister signed the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). CETA is a comprehensive and progressive trade agreement between the EU and Canada. It removes over 99% of tariffs that currently hinder trade between the EU and Canada. It is expected to increase bilateral trade by €12 billion per year, and to generate growth and new jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

Given the position taken by Ireland and other Member States, the Commission submitted CETA to the Council for decision as a mixed Agreement. That is one requiring both EU and individual Member States ratification. As this process may take a number of years to complete the Agreement provides for provisional application. Provisional application allows businesses and consumers to enjoy the benefits and new opportunities of the agreement as soon as possible.

As the Agreement has now been signed the next step is for the European Parliament to give its consent. Should the Parliament give its consent, the Agreement will be provisionally applied. The process of ratification can then commence in Member States according to their constitutional requirements.