Brussels, 03/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - The conclusion of the negotiations for a comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) could be announced by the end of October.
The direct involvement of Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso since their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit at the beginning of September (they saw each other again last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly) has reportedly enabled an agreement in principle to be tied up, according to Canadian sources close to the issue who have been quoted by La Presse. The agreement in principle would bring to an end the negotiations that were started in 2007. The majority of obstacles to an agreement have apparently been overcome and Ottawa is reportedly now working on a communication plan to announce the agreement.
At the end of last week, rumours were already circulating that the staff of Barroso and Harper had tied up a compromise on the most difficult issues relating to agricultural market access - for Canadian beef to the EU and European dairy products to Canada. As well as the stumbling block of agriculture, financial services, access to Canadian public procurement and the issue of patents for medicines were also major sticking points in the negotiations. (EH/transl.fl)