If a full free trade agreement that opens markets on both sides of the Atlantic is too ambitious, Canada and the EU should at least aggressively reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to both trade and investment, it recommends.
The report notes that two-way trade in goods between Canada and the 25-member EU totalled $70 billion last year, collectively making it Canada's second largest trading partner.
However, the exchange does not favour Canada, as nearly half of its exports have little value added beyond the initial production process, which suggests Canada is not successfully tied into the global supply chains of European business, it says.
Also, while the European Union is Canada's second largest investment partner, and the stock of Canadian direct investment there has quadrupled over the past decade to more than $100 billion, the stock of EU investment here has slipped this decade to only $91 billion and less than Canada's investment there.
And that decline has occurred despite the EU's expansion to 25 countries from 15 two years ago, it notes.
''This is a matter of some concern, since it may reflect a lack of long-term commitment by EU firms operating in Canada,'' the report says.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=bcea08d8-e8bb-41c0-b93f-32185d62adb8&k=42900
Note: http://www.canada.com/t...
Canada Needs Closer Economic Ties To Europe, Says Think-Tank
Posted on Thursday, May 18 at 13:15 by jensonjContributed By
Topic
Article Rating
(0 votes)
Options
Stumble It!Comments
view comments in forum
Page 1
''We have to put the United States as No. 1 but that shouldn't stop us from pursuing other interesting relationships around the world,''
said Glen Hodgson, the board's chief economist.
With this attitude by Canadian economists, Canada will never have the ability to negotiate on a level trading field with the United States of America for one reason only;
Canada is not trading with the rest of the world to a degree that allows Canadian Businesses to take their business elsewhere when they are being mistreated and disrespected.
All our eggs are in one basket allowing the U.S. to dictate terms and agreements as they see fit to do so.
Canada's Businesses elite and the Canadian Government must get past this idea of putting the United States as No. 1!
Quit defeating Canada before with get into the game as a player.
Its time that they put Canada and Canadians as No. 1!
Canadians deserve at least this much Loyality from its politicians and Business elites!
---
Perception is two thirds of what we perceive reality to be.
Difficult decisions are a privilege of rank.
<br />
No doubt, we need closer ties to a country that can help us militarily too when the U.S. decides to start flying jets into our buildings and blaming the Muslims.<br />
<br />
With Harper in power, I'm not liking our chances.<br />
<br />
A great new vid, Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.911podcasts.com/display.php?vid=92">http://www.911podcasts.com/display.php?vid=92</a><br />
<br />
Regarding the false flag attacks of September 11th, everybody DOES have to learn sometime, lets hope by then its not too late.
It was Lyin' Brian who said (paraphrased of course): "We don't have to make it. If we need it, we'll buy it." He was merely echoing what his colleagues (liberal, conservative, republican, democrat, whatever) thought, and continue to think.
---
RickW