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SWA urges MEPs to back CETA deal
The Scotch Whisky Association has called on MEPs to back the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) when the EU Parliament votes on the deal tomorrow [15 February].
The SWA is calling for MEPs to back the CETA deal
While Scotch already benefits from zero tariffs, the CETA deal would reduce barriers to entry for producers, cutting trading restrictions, boosting intellectual property rights for EU products in Canada, and removing the “market distorting impact” of the Canadian liquor boards, the SWA says.
According to the trade group a CETA deal would also help protect Scotch’s geographical indication (GI) in the market. While the GI is recognised, at present a minimum of 1% Canadian content must be added to bulk imports if the liquor boards do not bottle the product, invalidating the GI.
Canada is currently Scotch whisky’s thirteenth largest by value, with exports to the country valued at £77 million (about US$96m) a year.
Spirits are the biggest agri-food export for the EU, worth €10 billion (US$10.6bn). Scotch whisky accounts for around 40% of the total.
“We are proponents of open trade policies,” said Sarah Dickson, global affairs director, SWA.
“We believe the initiatives contained within CETA would greatly contribute to the economic growth of not only the UK, but also of Europe as a whole. CETA will generate growth and jobs through the increased exports, lower barriers to trade and offer wider choice for consumers.
“CETA would deliver a wide range of benefits for Scotch whisky and provide further opportunity in Canada which is already our thirteenth biggest export market by value. With the Scotch whisky industry supporting 40,000 jobs in the UK and adding value of £5 billion annually, any boosts from CETA would be good for the entire UK economy and export success. We are therefore urging MEPs to support CETA.”
Last month trade body Spirits Europe said the CETA deal would benefit both “large and small spirits producers”.
Despite trade support, there has been opposition from some groups that claim the CETA deal will threaten workers rights and undermine democracy.