CETA negotiations suspended over fisheries fund, N.L. says

CBC News | Jan 19, 2015

CETA negotiations suspended over fisheries fund, N.L. says

Darin King’s office sent out a letter on Monday, announcing the province’s intentions to suspend trade negotiations with the federal government.

Newfoundland and Labrador is suspending support for CETA and all trade agreements currently being negotiated with the federal government.

Darin King, the province’s business minister, said the province’s dispute with Ottawa over CETA — the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement — is still focused on a controversial fisheries investment fund. Newfoundland and Labrador says the federal government is not honouring a prior commitment to set up the fund, which it says will be needed to help the seafood industry when a trade deal with the European Union is approved.

"The federal government’s failure to honour the terms of this fund is jeopardizing CETA for all industries, economic sectors, and indeed all Canadian and European Union citizens," he said.

In a press release Monday, Darrin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, stated that King, who attended a news conference Monday with Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Keith Hutchings, said his department was advising the federal government that Newfoundland and Labrador is no longer working with them with ongoing trade agreements.

More than CETA

The statement even went beyond the scope of CETA, and said negotiations on other trade deals are also affected.

"As a result of the federal government’s failure to honour its commitment respecting the fisheries investment fund, I have advised the federal Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, that the provincial government is suspending its participation in all trade agreements," he said.

"All trade agreements currently under negotiation by the federal government would not have any effect in matters within the jurisdiction of Newfoundland and Labrador.“

The letter described a history of the CETA deal, explaining the time period where the province felt that they were treated unfairly by Ottawa.

source : CBC

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