19/09/2016 (Agence Europe) – The German Social Democratic party (SPD) of German Vice-Chancellor and Minister of the Economy Sigmar Gabriel was due to decide at a mini-congress of 235 delegates in Wolfsburg on Monday 19 September whether to endorse the EU-Canada free trade deal (CETA). While highly critical of the planned EU-United States free trade deal (TTIP), Gabriel defends CETA as an opportunity for the EU to shape globalisation and a deal that defends the interests of all and not just big corporations. Before the congress on Monday, the SPD’s executive committee unanimously backed a new compromise on CETA that Gabriel is reported by Reuters on Monday to have drawn up with Hanover region parliamentarian Matthias Miersch, a fervent opponent of CETA. (EH)