{"id":23154,"date":"2021-09-22T11:19:40","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T15:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23154"},"modified":"2021-09-22T11:19:43","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T15:19:43","slug":"varadkar-warns-that-rejecting-eu-canada-trade-deal-would-be-own-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23154","title":{"rendered":"Varadkar Warns That Rejecting EU-Canada Trade Deal Would Be ‘Own Goal’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Varadkar said rejection of the EU-Canada trade deal would send out ‘the wrong message’ (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Failure to ratify the EU-Canada trade deal CETA would be an \u201cown goal\u201d for Ireland, T\u00e1naiste Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told an Oireachtas committee that rejection of the agreement would send out \u201cthe wrong message to the world\u201d that Ireland\u2019s commitment to free trade is \u201cwaning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minister for Enterprise also brushed off concerns that the establishment of an investment court system (ICS) under the treaty would make it easier for corporations to sue governments and could stifle policy-making decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u00e1il votes to ratify the controversial deal were postponed in December 2020 and February this year, amid fears it could cause a split in coalition partners the Green Party over environmental concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar said: \u201cI don\u2019t want ratification delayed and drifting indefinitely and for Ireland to stand by and watch other EU member states ratify it ahead of us, as the majority have already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that would send out the wrong message to the world. One of a waning commitment to trade and free enterprise in Ireland, which would have negative consequences for investment and employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIreland should be a leader in Europe and the first mover when it comes to free trade, in my view.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>