The European Union’s ambassador to Canada said Canadian farmers should not expect free trade talks to solve key outstanding issues between the two.
Matthias Brinkmann, speaking at an event organized by the University of Saskatchewan’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy on May 25, cited Canadian and EU differences on genetically modified organisms as one example. Europe’s ban on most GMOs has long been a source of consternation for Canadian farmers but Brinkmann said the issue would not be resolved through a trade negotiations. Instead, the European Parliament would have to change its laws.
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Brinkmann also indicated that Europe’s disdain for hormone treated meat was unlikely to change. He said the ban on hormone treated beef and pork was the result of public opposition and EU legislators were following the wishes of their electorate.
He said even if hormone treated meat were allowed in, he doubted Europeans would buy it.
He added that access for a “generous” quota of hormone-free Canadian beef could be negotiated.
“But we want something in return. We open for your beef, you open for our cheeses,” he said, referring to the entrenched supply management system that regulates the Canadian dairy, poultry and egg industries.
He said doing away with supply management in the wake of an agreement was unlikely, but the negotiations would require concessions from both sides, and issues like the GMO and hormone bans would have to be worked around.
Brinkmann said Canada has a lot to gain from a deal with the EU, the world’s largest economy, representing a market of about 500 million people.
As well, development needs in new EU member states and potential new EU members in the Balkans represent massive opportunities for the Canadian economy, he said.
From its perspective, the EU sees access to Canada’s public works projects as the biggest potential prize of a deal.
He tried to soothe fears that this would prevent municipal and provincial governments from buying local, saying European firms would want to bid on large-scale public projects, which would increase competition and save taxpayers money.
