Namur, Belgium | Reuters — The Belgian fortress city of Namur, besieged by European armies down the centuries, issued a declaration of war on the global economic order Friday, with a vote to reject a planned EU-Canada free trade agreement. The parliament of the region of Wallonia voted in its seat at Namur after a […] Read more
CETA hits resistance in Belgian fortress Wallonia
German court rejects bid to block Canada-EU trade deal
Berlin/Ottawa | Reuters –– Germany’s Constitutional Court cleared the government on Thursday to approve a free trade accord between the European Union and Canada under defined conditions, boosting the agreement’s chances of passing an EU vote next week. However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made clear he was losing patience with the EU over the […] Read more
Germany’s top court hears CETA challenge
Karlsruhe, Germany | Reuters — Germany’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday began hearing a legal challenge to a planned EU-Canada free trade deal that could paralyze the accord. Three German activist groups handed in 125,000 signatures to the court in August in opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which they fear will undermine […] Read more
Belgian regions set to block CETA over farm concerns
Brussels | Reuters –– Southern Belgium is set to block a planned EU-Canada free trade agreement, threatening to undermine the European Union’s entire trade policy and serving as a warning to British hopes of a speedy deal after Britain has left the European Union. EU trade ministers will vote in a week on the Comprehensive […] Read more
EU’s Juncker seeks to win over Austria on CETA
Strasbourg | Reuters –– European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed optimism on Wednesday that EU governments would agree a contentious free trade deal this month ahead of a meeting with a skeptical Austrian chancellor. Juncker said the EU needed to ensure that a deal agreed with Canada two years ago entered into force in a […] Read more
Austria’s chancellor sees CETA on right track
Vienna | Reuters –– Austria’s government on Monday seemed to have found common ground on a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada with Chancellor Christian Kern, who has criticized the pact in the past, saying negotiations were on the right track. Social Democrat Kern’s opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement […] Read more
New Zealand dairy industry worries over Canada pricing plan
Wellington/Winnipeg | Reuters — New Zealand is closely watching changes in how Canada prices dairy products, New Zealand’s trade ministry said on Friday, as industry groups in several countries complain of unfair Canadian competition. Canada’s dairy farmers and processors, which include Saputo and Parmalat Canada, struck a pricing agreement in July that industry groups in […] Read more
EU bids to seal CETA as U.S. deal prospects fade
Bratislava | Reuters –– European Union ministers took steps Friday to approve a contentious free trade deal with Canada, while France and Austria demanded that talks towards a similar agreement with the United States should stop. Both deals have triggered demonstrations by unions and protest groups who say they will spark a “race to the […] Read more
EU, Canada seek to win over CETA doubters with declaration
Vienna/Brussels | Reuters — Canada’s trade minister and the European Union’s trade chief sought Wednesday to overcome the doubts of Austria and other EU members over a planned EU-Canada free trade deal, with a declaration spelling out the limits of the contentious pact. Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, speaking in Vienna, said the legally binding […] Read more
German minister expects to win vote on CETA
Montreal | Reuters –– Germany’s economy minister said Thursday he expected the country’s Social Democrats, a junior partner in the ruling coalition, to vote in favour of a free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union at a party meeting on Sept. 19. “We will get a majority vote,” German Vice-Chancellor and Economic Affairs Minister […] Read more
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