While the UK government is generally in favour of ISDS, it has so far not specifically called for it to be included in a trade agreement between the EU and the UK, which would include all EU Member States (not just CEE countries that have already entered into an investment protection agreement with the UK). But they have a lot of powerful voices in their ears that ask for exactly that. The most important is the financial sector, which has long called for the inclusion of special tribunals in an agreement. The UK`s main financial services lobby group, such as the International Regulatory Strategy Group (IRSD), has already proposed that a trade agreement between the EU and the UK include ISDS, similar to CETA. The current EU-Canada wine and spirits agreement will be integrated, along with other measures to remove “backward-border” barriers to prevention or barriers to market access. For the UK, it is essential to negotiate and sign some kind of trade agreement with the EU as soon as possible, with the transition period ending on 31 December 2020. If there are no deals after that date, the British will lose their privileged access to this important market. This will significantly disrupt the trade flows and supply chains that have sighed for the UK economy. The EU has implemented all or part of trade agreements with 88 countries, including Canada. Many of these agreements are linked to small economies, but the fact is that as a result of Brexit, the UK will lose all the privileged access it enjoys as an EU member. TJM calls on the United Kingdom to oppose the ratification of CETA for the above reasons. It also seems very inconsistent for the UK to sign a treaty to which it will no longer be a supporter after the withdrawal from the EU, but which nevertheless seems to impose ongoing obligations.
Since CETA contains many provisions that could harm Uk households and citizens, it should not serve as a model for future trade agreements that the UK could conclude after leaving the EU. TJM calls on policy makers to use alternative business models that put the UK`s human rights, environment and international commitments ahead of trade. The recent comprehensive economic and trade agreement with Canada was negotiated over an eight-year period. The INTER agreement between the EU and Canada continues to liberalise trade in almost all sectors. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has begun informal free trade talks with former British Prime Minister Teresa May and recently reiterated his commitment to a trade deal between the two countries led by Boris Johnson. In 2008, an EU-Australia partnership framework was adopted, which removes trade barriers but is not a free trade agreement. One of the central concerns is the difficulty, if not the impossibility, of following the progress of such an agreement, particularly what we are talking about with lobbyists. In 2018, after months of pressure on EU and UK authorities, the Corporate Europe Observatory and Spinwatch (UK) had to conclude that it was not possible to obtain basic information on the exchanges between the official bodies and the business groups involved in the negotiations.
Both sides denied access to basic information about their interviews with lobbyists. CETA establishes a framework for mutual recognition of professional qualifications. It sets out the framework conditions and guidelines for negotiating professional agreements in regulated professions such as lawyers. If agreements were reached, European professionals would have their qualifications recognized by the relevant Canadian authorities and vice versa.