'What's There to Lose?' Procurement Policies and Investment Restrictions Under a Proposed Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Colin Scott

Canada and the European Union (EU) have recently concluded a fifth round of negotiations on an ambitious Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). While both parties are anticipating an agreement to be reached sometime in 2011, this paper outlines two aspects of Canadian economic policy that cast doubt on whether the negotiations of such a comprehensive treaty will be successful. By examining the conflicting effects a CETA will have on Canada's economic trade strategy, as well as how Canada's provinces will be affected by the inability to strategically use local favouritism in the areas of procurement and investment, this paper examines why it is unlikely that a CETA will be reached by 2011