Why Trade Agreements Matter: Ratifying CETA and the Shopify Story

Ireland’s government has a very important decision to make. CETA, a trade agreement between Canada and the EU, is currently awaiting ratification from the Oireachtas, and the clock is ticking. Many other EU member States have signed the deal, and the longer Ireland waits, the more negative the consequences.  Multilateralism has never been more important for the Irish economy and business model, particularly as the country faces the twin threats of Brexit and Covid. In this episode of Ibec Voices, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy outlines the significant economic and societal benefits that trade deals, such as CETA, can deliver; and he makes a strong case for why the Irish Government must ratify this deal as soon as possible. We also hear from John Riordan, Director of Customer Support and Chair of the Board at e-commerce platform Shopify International, a Canadian-based multinational with a substantial presence in Ireland. John outlines the Shopify story in Ireland, the unique business and cultural links between Ireland and Canada, and how CETA has been advancing the cause of connected business between Ireland and Canada since 2017. He also explains the importance of sustainability to Shopify’s current and future business strategy.  Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here.  Make sure to follow Ibec Podcasts to stay up to date with new episodes.