Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission
4.12.2014
The text resulting from the negotiations on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is available online[1]. As concerns agriculture, the EU will eliminate almost 94% of tariffs within seven years. Market access for beef and pork meat was the major offensive interest of Canada. However, these products were considered sensitive and were therefore excluded from full liberalisation. The EU will open progressively over five years a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) of 45 838 tons of beef, of which 30 838 tons of fresh beef, which represents 0.6% of total EU annual beef production and consumption[2]. Canada for its part has completely liberalised beef in the agreement. The granting of this TRQ is designed to minimise any impact on EU beef production, bearing in mind the fall in consumption in the EU. Any import of beef from Canada is subject to full compliance with EU health and safety standards.
The agreement with Canada on beef is part of a balanced package in which the EU obtained important concessions, notably on dairy — where Canada will open a quota for cheese — on processed agricultural products where Canada has liberalised its market, — and on the protection of EU Geographical Indications. On the latter, Canada will grant a high level of protection to a list of 145 EU agrifood names. CETA will also allow additional GIs to be added in the future.
The Commission is also supporting EU exports and the diversification of market outlets via a significantly increased budget for promotion measures — from 60 million EUR to 200 million EUR a year by 2019 — and by trying to remove some of the existing barriers to EU exports, including beef. These measures will contribute to maintaining an economically viable beef sector in the EU.