LexSage

Canadian House of Commons
Approves Canada-EU CETA
Implementation Act at Third Reading

February 17, 2017

On February 14, 2017, the Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-30 “An Act to implement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union and its Member States and to provide for certain other measures“ at Third Reading. There were three days of debates at third reading on February 8, 2017, February 13, 2017 and February 14, 2017.  Bill C-30 moves to the Canadian Senate.  This is good news as Prime Minister Trudeau is leaving for Europe to witness and celebrate the ratification of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement by the European Union.

According to Article 30.7(2), the Canada-EU CETA will “enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date the Parties exchange written notifications certifying that they have completed their respective internal requirements and procedures or on such other date as the Parties may agree.”  What this means is that the CETA will enter into force one month after the Senate passes Bill C-30 and the Government of Canada sends the formal written notification of ratification.

All eyes will be on the Senate to move quickly.  Assuming the Senate can work quickly (no pressure), the Canada-EU CETA can enter into force in the Spring of 2017.  Article 30.7(3) allows for provisional implementation of CETA “from the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties have notified each other that their respective internal requirements and procedures necessary for the provisional application of this Agreement have been completed or on such other date as the Parties may agree.”  What this means is that CETA can have provisional application up to a month earlier.  So, if the Senate passes Bill C-30 in March 2017 and the Government of Canada ratifies CETA in March 2017, provisional application can start on April 1, 2017.