Brussels, 10/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - At the Montreal conference on Wednesday 10 June, the European Commissioner for trade, Catherine Ashton and the Canadian trade minister, Stockwell Day, arranged for the first session in negotiations for a comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada to take place in October. The launch of this agreement was decided at the Prague summit on 6 May (EUROPE 9897). As agreed in March 2009, the future economic pact includes the liberalisation of trade in goods and services, better market access, investment provisions and improved rules on trade. Currently, bilateral trade and economic relations are governed by a 1976 framework agreement, together with several sectoral agreements. According to a 2007 feasibility study assessing the advantages of a closer partnership, greater liberalisation of trade will lead to a gain of €11.6bn a year for the EU, 50% of which will be from the liberalisation of services, 25% from getting rid of customs duties and 25% from reduced non-tariff barriers. Canada will gain €8.2bn a year (EUROPE 9894). (E.H./trans/rh)