Brussels, 24/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - With 75% of the work accomplished since 2009, the EU and Canada are hoping to conclude their free trade agreement by November.
While their technical negotiators were meeting up this week in Brussels for the tenth session of discussions, the EU and Canada are confident about the forthcoming conclusion of a bilateral comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA), which was planned in 2009. The agreement is expected to come into force in six months' time, explained Danish Trade Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr, during her visit to Ottawa on Monday 24 April. She added that “we are at the end of the match”, with 75% of questions concluded and only a few significant points still pending, such as managing the supply of Canadian agricultural products and rules of origin. Her Canadian counterpart, Ed Fast, highlighted the spin-off effects of such an agreement, which would increase bilateral trade by 20%, as well as boost investment flows and simplify labour mobility between the two economies. The CETA is, nevertheless, opposed by anti-globalisation NGOs and trade unionists in Canada, particularly with regard to the section on public procurement. They are afraid that local governments and cities in Canada will not be able to promote local purchases and the economic development of the region will be affected by European competition. (EH/transl.fl)