Brussels, 15/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Brussels this week, European and Canadian negotiators successfully concluded their eighth round of negotiations, launched in 2009, on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), according to staff of Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. “While a number of issues remain complex and will need further work over the coming months, significant progress was made across the board”, commented De Gucht's spokesman, John Clancy, in a press release. The European executive announces considerable progress on the liberalisation of trade in goods and services and public procurement, and market access offers were exchanged this week on goods and public procurement. With regard to outstanding issues, the chapter on rules of origin poses more of a problem, as do a number of technical elements. “Negotiations remain fully on track and negotiators remain confident they will reach a very ambitious agreement”, Clancy concludes. European and Canadian negotiators will be meeting again in Ottawa in October. (E.H./transl.jl)