An overview of EU-Italy-Canada relations, with a view to Italy’s ratification of EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

By Paolo Quattrocchi
Lawyer, Vice-President of ICCCW, Director of the Centro Studi Italia-Canada and Partner at ADVANT Nctm Law Firm in Rome

In 2016, the European Union (EU) and Canada entered into two pivotal agreements: the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), aimed at strategic matters, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), focused on economic and commercial aspects.

Italy and Europe have profound historical ties with Canada that trace back to the colonial period. Originally established as a French colony in the early 17th century, the geographical area now encompassing modern-day Canada was later ceded to the British Empire by the French following the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War in 1763. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Canada witnessed successive waves of European immigration. The Canadian government actively promoted immigration through various initiatives, such as the Dominion Lands Act of 1872 and the Canadian Pacific Railway’s recruitment campaigns. This period saw significant immigration from Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Poland, Italy, and the Baltic states. Moreover, in the same period, there was a huge immigration from China, and, later on, after World War II, Canada gradually saw a more diverse influx of immigrants from Asia, including countries such as India, the Philippines, Korea, and Pakistan.

Read the full article here: https://www.centrostudi-italiacanada.it/articles/an-overview-of-eu-italy-canada-relations-with-a-view-to-italys-ratification-of-eu-canada-comprehensive-economic-and-trade-agreement-ceta

Our President Receives the honour of Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy

Congratulations to our president Celso Boscariol, Q.C. for being promoted to the Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy.

 

Celso Boscariol, Q.C., the president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada West and a Partner in Watson Goepel Business Law Group, has been promoted from Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy to the rank of Officer, Order of the Star of Italy, a civilian honour (similar to the Order of Canada) that is awarded to Italians abroad for special merit in the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and other countries such as Canada.

Celso is recognized for his contributions to the Italian Community in Canada, and his leadership of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada-West promoting commercial relations between Canada and Italy. Of special note, was Celso’s work on the Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (“CETA”) between Canada and the European Union, which Italy is a founding member.

The order is conferred by the President of the Italian Republic on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Canada – LUISS Business School Lecture

July 6th 2020

Our President, Celso A A Boscariol, QC, a partner of the Vancouver law firm and chamber member  Watson Goepel LLP, delivered a lecture to LUISS Business School Master in Food Law Program on the “Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Canada” for importers and Italian companies wishing to set up business operations in Canada. The LUISS School of Law has drawn specific attention to the LLM in Food Law as one of its core programs. Luiss School of Law represents an innovation in the field of legal studies in Italy at the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli in Rome, Italy, offering  undergraduate, master and doctoral courses and programs.

About Watson Goepel LLP

Watson GoepelOffices 0242 Web 2

Founded in 1984 by four originating partners, Watson Goepel is a successful mid-sized firm with over 30 lawyers, practicing in a diversity of disciplines, across numerous industries and sectors in the areas of Business, Employment, Wills & Estates, Family, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Personal Injury Law.

Effective June 30 2020, our member, Watson Goepel LLP, has joined forces with Stewart & Winch to better serve clients on the North Shore and surrounding areas.

Located in the West Vancouver community of Dundarave, Stewart & Winch has been providing legal services in the areas of general corporate/ commercial, real estate, and wills and estates, for over 20 years.

“We spent considerable time looking for the right fit to expand our firm. When we met Charlie Winch and learned more about his established practice and excellent reputation in the community, we knew the time was right to move forward.”

– Ryan Lee, Managing Partner of Watson Goepel LLP

Stewart & Winch has developed a strong reputation for service excellence, providing reliable legal advice and representation to a wide variety of domestic and international clients across a range of industries.

This West Vancouver office marks the third location for Watson Goepel, who also has offices in downtown Vancouver and Surrey, BC.
Learn more about this exciting new partnership by clicking the link below.

Destination Business Québec

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT CANADA-EU (CETA) AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITALIAN COMPANIES

 

Wednesday 13 June 2018, from 9.00 to 13.00

Sala Industria – Chamber of Commerce of Verona, Corso Porta Nuova, 96 – Verona

 

The seminar is organized by the Delegation of Québec in Italy in collaboration with Confindustria Verona and is aimed primarily at Italian companies and bodies interested in investing or concluding partnerships with Québec. In this regard, various issues will be addressed: the economic and traderelations between Italy and Québec in the CETA era, Québec’s economic strategies and investment opportunities, the circulation of people, goods and services, the technical aspects related to immigration.

 

Click here for the registration to the event

 

 

                                    

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IN FLORENCE A SEMINAR OF CENTRO STUDI ITALIA CANADA AND CNA FLORENCE TO DISCUSS ABOUT CETA AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITALIAN COMPANIES

 

CNA FIRENZE AND CENTRO STUDI ITALIA CANADA PRESENTS:

 

Economic Agreement Canada – Ue:

Business Opportunities for Italian Companies 

FLORENCE 12 JUNE 2018 – from 9.30 to 13.00

Gabinetto Vieusseux – Sala Ferri, Palazzo Strozzi

 

rvsp: info@centrostudi-italiacanada.it

 

Promoted by the Centro Studi Italia Canada and by CNA Florence, in the prestigious Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and under the patronage of the Municipality of Florence, will be held on June 12 the seminar “Economic Agreement Canada-EU: Business Opportunities for Italian Enterprises.” Experts and professionals in the field of international trade will present the Free Trade Agreement CETA and the benefits for Italian companies in terms of economic growth and competitiveness. 

Italy is today the 8th worldwide supplier in Canada and the 12th destination market for Canadian products. Starting from this premise, on June 12th in Florence, we will offer an opportunity to discuss the main measures introduced by CETA, on the possibilities of activating business partnerships, providing an overview of how to invest and access credit. A focus will be dedicated to internationalization opportunities for Italian companies in the Canadian province of Québec. 

Speakers include:

• Giacomo Cioni, President, CNA Florence

• Paolo Quattrocchi, partner Nctm Studio Legale, Director of Centro Studi Italia-Canada;

• Arturo Galansino, Director General of the Palazzo Strozzi Foundation

• Jan Scazighino, Minister Counselor for Economic Relations, Embassy of Canada in Italy

• Luca De Carli, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission, DG TRADE

• Marianna Simeone, Delegate of Québec in Italy

• Lucia Baldino, Director of Europe, Desjardins

• Fabrizio Toti, Area Manager, JAS

• Noemi Trombetti, Inspection Trading Auditing – ITA Corporation

 

5 MONTHS NUMBERS FROM CETA IMPLEMENTATION (OCTOBER 2017 – FEBRUARY 2018)

The CETA agreement is a comprehensive economic and trade agreement between the EU and Canada and entered into force provisionally on 21 September 2017. 

The objectives of CETA are the 99% elimination of customs duties, the opening of public tenders to the companies involved, the opening of the services markets, the opening of the market for agri-food products and the recognition of a series of products with European geographical indications and therefore the protection from counterfeiting, the simplification of the entry of European workers in Canada also through the recognition of some professional qualifications, the promotion of investments also through the definition of certain rules to protect investors. 

5 months after the implementation of CETA (Oct 2017-Feb 2018), the ICE Office of Toronto has elaborated the first data related to the economic-commercial relations between Italy and Canada, highlighting the positive impact that the new measures have had for the Italian economy.

Imports and exports between Canada and Italy recorded a positive trend in market trends: + 12.8% of Italian exports to Canada, $ 3.430 mln CAD, compared to the same period of the previous year, $ 3.039 mln CAD, while slower is the growth of Italian imports from Canada, + 2.5%, equal to $ 1.107 million CAD, compared to the previous year, $ 1,080 million CAD. 

In addition, the data shows that the sectors that have benefited most from the almost total liberalization of the market, are the machinery (+ 8%), the agri-food industry (+ 15%) and the means of transportation (+ 15%). For example, in the agrifood sector, Italy has achieved a position of excellence: 4th global supplier and 1st European supplier of Canada, with a total value of $ 581 million CAD in the period analyzed by ICE-agency.

 

REGISTRATION

For event accreditation: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-accordo-economico-canada-ue-opportunita-daffari-per-le-imprese-italiane-46437552971?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

 

For the organizational contribution we thank FAIR, MBH, NCTM.

Link to the detailed program of the seminar.

The Enit Workshop Italia in Vancouver

Workshop ITALIA 2018: a day of B2B meetings with sector operators for the promotion of tourist flows between Italy and Canada

 

ENIT-The Italian Government Tourist Board, confirming our country’s attention for the Canadian market, is dedicating significant resources to tourism promotion and commercialization through the regular organization of sector workshops. 

As part of the ENIT promotion and marketing plan for Canada, the Workshop ITALIA 2018 was held on 12 April at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in Vancouver. The event, attended by many Canadian and Italian operators, had as objective the creation of opportunities for the meeting of tourism demand and supply between the two countries.

The B2B meetings, with about 70 Canadian demand operators, were preceded by a multimedia briefing dedicated to Italians operators, with the aim to deepen the socio-demographic characteristics of Canada taking into account the main macroeconomic and sector indicators.

After that, the ENIT representatives presented the 2018 image campaign and the promotional plans for the Canadian market, which was also attended by the Consul General of Italy in Vancouver, Massimiliano Iacchini.

THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY IN THE ERA OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Canada is strengthened as a global center of technological innovation at the Aerospace Innovation Forum 2018 in Montreal, the world’s strategic event of the aerospace cluster dedicated this year to the most innovative technologies in the industry.

 

It is the B2B strategic event that gathers the leaders of the world aerospace industry to discuss the best practices of the sector and generate new business opportunities. The sixth edition of the Aerospace Innovation Forum took place on April 16 and 17 in Montréal, organized by AéroMontréal (Québec aerospace cluster) at the opening of the International Aerospace Week. Since 2006, the Forum has mobilized the Canadian aerospace industry and supports its growth and influence on the international scene of the industry. Just in the previous edition of 2016, at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, the event counted 1200 participants, 50 exhibiting companies, 80 international speakers and 1400 B2B meetings. 

 

The themes of the Aerospace Innovation Forum 2018

Airbus, Bombardier and Ernst & Young were the main partners of the Forum this year, organized in collaboration with the National Research Council Canada (NRC), whose program focused on the issue of disruptive technologies, the most innovative in aerospace and their impact on other economic sectors. Six technologies have emerged with the greatest potential for transformation of the industry:

 

1. Advanced production: new generation intelligent robotic systems, artificial intelligence (AI and machine learning), Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing;

2. Vehicles with additive manufacturing: 3D data models to meet the challenges of certification, production scales and new materials;

3. Clean technologies: solutions and technologies related to emissions, energy consumption, noise, reuse and recycling of waste;

4. Big data for mobility, aviation and space: commercial evaluation of the data generated during operation (through sensors) through the development of machine learning and data mining solutions;

5. On-demand autonomy and mobility: design, production and marketing of infrastructure and components for on-demand vehicles and autonomous systems based on a vertical take-off and landing vehicle network (VTOL);

6. Design and virtual testing: synthetic environments, machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve design and certification, on-demand autonomous mobility and eco-technology programs.

 

Visitors to the Forum had the opportunity to participate in top-level events, including plenary sessions, conferences, workshops and B2B meetings with the world’s leading industrial players, including Airbus, Bell, Boeing, Bombardier, CAE, Embraer, GE Aviation, L-3 MAS, NASA, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Uber. They also had access to an exhibition space and networking opportunities, holding a conversation during the Forum with more than 1,400 business meetings between SMEs in Quebec and the major global clients.

 

The entrepreneurial Italian mission

An Italian entrepreneurial mission also arrived to Montreal to take part at the week dedicated to aerospace innovation. The delegation organized by the Government of Québec, in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in Italy and with AIAD (Federation of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defense and Security) has been following the Forum on 16 and 17 April and was involved in networking activities. The Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation (MESI) of the Government of Québec with the support of AéroMontréal has also organized for the Italian companies a two-day visit to some companies operating in the aerospace industry of the Canadian Province, innovation leader in the field and ranked fourth in the world by revenue.

 

The aerospace industry in Canada

The Canadian aerospace industry consists of 700 companies, 28 billion dollars of gross domestic product and over 200 thousand employees. With these numbers, Canada stands as one of the best industrial ecosystems in the aerospace industry.

The federal government is supporting innovation in the aerospace industry and is working to attract investments in this important sector of the economy, focusing on technology, talent and the infrastructure needed to guide the future of this innovative sector.

For example, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, based in Mirabel, Quebec, since 1986, has produced more than 5000 commercial helicopters for customers from around the world. This type of investment in production is mainly carried out through the Strategic Innovation Fund of the Canadian government, which aims to stimulate economic growth, strengthen and expand the role of Canadian companies in global supply chains, supporting economic strategies and attract investment able to create new jobs.

In addition to the Strategic Innovation Fund, they were established hundreds of programs and services to help companies to innovate, create jobs and stimulate the Canadian economy. Initiatives aimed at developing an increasingly qualified workforce, the result of collaboration between industry and universities, with the ultimate goal of strengthening Canada’s position as a global innovation hub.

 

New investments by the Canadian Federal Government

During the Forum, the Canadian Minister for Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains, announced a $ 49.5 million loan to a consortium of aerospace companies led by the aforementioned Bell Helicopter Textron Canada. 

Thanks to these funds, Bell and 18 industrial and academic partners will develop innovative technologies for new generation helicopters able to fly with or without crew, as well as flight systems that will increase aircraft energy efficiency, they will make its use more sustainable by the environmental point of view, also reducing noise pollution.

The announced investments are expected to create more than 300 jobs in Canada, totaling nearly $ 200 million in gross domestic product over the next five years and strengthening Canada’s position as a global innovation hub. During this project, Bell and its partners will invest $ 125 million in the Canadian aerospace industry.

The industrial and academic consortium partners include Pratt & Whitney Canada, CMC Electronics, an Esterline Electronic Systems, several small and medium-sized enterprises and nine Canadian universities.

Canada towards a free trade agreement with MERCOSUR

The Canadian trade policy is constantly evolving and aims to strengthen its networkthrough the signing of free trade agreement. After CETA, TPP11 and other agreements under negotiation, (NAFTA, Canada-CARICOM, etc.), Canada started an initial exploratory phase for the conclusion of a free trade agreement with the trading bloc MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market), which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. 

Last February 23, the Minister of International Trade of Canada, François-Philippe Champagne, announced the positive outcome of this first contact: the common intention to deepen trade relations, expressed through a Canada-Mercosur joint statement, issued on the sidelines the World Trade Organization meetings held in Marrakesh in October 2017.

The intensification of dialogue with the world’s fourth largest trade bloc, with 260 million people and a GDP of over than 3 trillion dollars, represents for Canada an opportunity for a new market in fast-growing countries and a further increase in employment for the Canadian middle class. From auto spare parts to chemical products, from wood to seafood, this important market is indeed mature for Canadian products and producers. But a potential free trade agreement would also benefit the Mercosur countries, thanks to a reduction in prices on many of the exports to Canada, for the benefit of Canadian consumers who would have the opportunity to access to clothing or furniture products at more affordable prices. 

As reiterated by the Minister Champagne: “Canada is engaged in a progressive and diversified business agenda that focuses on the interests of the Canadian middle class. More trade means growth, and growth means more jobs, which is why the government continues to explore new opportunities to negotiate free trade agreements with fast-growing global markets. “