Italian fashion, footwear could benefit from EU-Canada free trade agreement

Italy's National Confederation of Artisans (CNA), has expressed the opinion that ratification of the EU-Canada free trade agreement, known as CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement ), could be advantageous to Italy.

The Confederation's opinion was voiced at a Senate Foreign Affairs Commission hearing in Rome. On 15th February 2017, the European Parliament voted to approve CETA, and now the strategic partnership agreement needs to be ratified by all EU member states. According to CNA, "the agreement aims to promote international trade while safeguarding Europe's high quality standards, complying with product origin regulations and protecting trademarks."

In the representative body's opinion, the Made-in-Italy sectors which would most benefit from CETA are fashion, footwear, food, furniture and industrial machinery, all industries in which Italian SMEs have a strong international reputation. The agreement would also "contribute to bolstering [Italy's] current economic growth, which is still weak."