CETA governance and committees

The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) established special committees between European Union (EU) and Canada to determine how to develop, supplement or implement the agreement.

On this page

• CETA Joint Committee
  • Key documents: decisions, interpretations and recommendations
  • Joint Committee meetings
• CETA specialized committees
  • Specialized committee meetings and documents

CETA Joint Committee

The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Joint Committee is a ministerial-level meeting established under CETA to oversee the work of the specialized committees and dialogues. It is co-chaired by the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada and the European Commissioner for trade, or their designate. The CETA Joint Committee serves as an opportunity for Canadian and European Union (EU) delegates to convene and deliberate on various aspects of the agreement's execution and comprehension. This includes exchanging insights on achievements, addressing challenges, and setting priorities. Additionally, it provides a forum to tackle broader trade and investment matters pertinent to both Parties.

The Fourth CETA Joint Committee meeting was held on February 9, 2024, in a hybrid format. Minister Ng and her counterpart Executive Vice President Dombrovski co-chaired the meeting in Brussels, accompanied by their respective delegation.

Key documents: decisions, interpretations and recommendations

• Rules of Procedure
• Recommendation: Climate action and the Paris Agreement
  • Text of the recommendation on trade, Climate action and the Paris Agreement
  • Joint activity report to the CETA Joint Committee “First 18 months of the CETA Joint Committee Recommendation on Trade, climate action and the Paris Agreement”
• Recommendation: Trade and gender
  • Text of the recommendation on trade and gender
  • Joint activity report to the CETA Joint Committee “Working together to advance trade and gender”
• Recommendation: Trade and small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Text of the Recommendation on Trade and small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Joint Activity Report to the CETA Joint Committee - “Working together to advance trade and small and medium-sized enterprises”
• Functioning of the Appellate Tribunal
• Procedure for the Adoption of Interpretations
• Interpretation on Investment (DRAFT)
• Expedited investment dispute settlement procedures (DRAFT)

Joint Committee meetings

February 9, 2024 (Brussels, hybrid)

• Provisional agenda
• Joint statement

December 2, 2022 (Ottawa, hybrid)

• Joint report
• Provisional agenda
• Joint statement

March 25, 2021 (by videoconference)

• Joint report
• Provisional agenda
• Joint statement
• An overview of Canada-EU trade performance under CETA

September 26, 2018 (Montreal)

• Provisional agenda
• Summary report
• Joint statement

CETA specialized committees

The CETA Joint Committee oversees eighteen specialized committees and dialogues facilitating collaboration between the EU and Canada. These committees play a crucial role in shaping the development, supplementation, and implementation of the agreement. They have the authority to propose draft decisions for adoption by the CETA Joint Committee and can autonomously take decisions as provided for by the agreement.

• Agriculture
• Bilateral Dialogue on forest products
• Bilateral Dialogue on motor vehicle regulations
• Biotech market access issues dialogue
• Dialogue on raw materials
• Financial services
• Geographical indications
• Government procurement
• Joint customs cooperation
• Joint sectoral group on pharmaceuticals
• Mutual recognition of professional qualifications
• Regulatory cooperation forum
• Sanitary and phytosanitary measures
• Services and investment
• Trade and sustainable development
• Civil society forum
• Trade in goods
• Wines and spirits

Specialized committee meetings and documents

View all specialized committee meetings and filter by committee type, year and content type.