This week’s Global Labour Column features Peter Rossman’s analysis of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), an investment treaty which he describes as a comprehensive vehicle for expanding the scope of transnational investment by rolling back the capacity of governments to regulate in the public interest. CETA seeks to eliminate the laws and regulations that limit corporate power and support the services and policies needed to defend workers, citizens and the environment. Rossman is more critical of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism which privileges transnational capital and leaves existing regulations and policies in Canada and the EU vulnerable to investor challenges. To this effect, unions and the civil society are unanimously calling for the removal of ISDS from CETA.

Written by Peter Rossman, Director of Campaigns and Communication for the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF).