EU and Canada sign delayed CETA trade accord
The deal will go into effect on provisional basis early next year, as long as European Parliament backs it.
By CHRISTIAN OLIVER, DAVID M. HERSZENHORN AND ANCA GURZU
10/30/16, 2:10 PM CET
Updated 10/30/16, 7:16 PM CET
The European Union and Canada signed a landmark trade deal Sunday, drawing a line under four months of political conflict across Europe that at times looked likely to scupper the pact.
Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau traveled to Brussels, where he was joined at the ceremony for signing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement by European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Trudeau had to delay his trip to Brussels after protracted resistance from the Belgian region of Wallonia, which only relented on Thursday.
“We [now] have two options: we can take an easier path and pretend that we can reverse the tide of globalization, closing our doors to the world. Or we can take the more difficult path and try to shape globalization according to our vision,” said EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.
“In signing today’s trade agreement, the EU and Canada opted for the latter, and I’m proud of that,” she added.
However, full “definitive” application will require ratification from member countries, which can still vote down the pact over objections concerning the court system through which investors can sue governments.
“This agreement will probably not survive the democratic and legal scrutiny of the ratification process over the coming months,” Greenpeace said in a statement.
EU and Canada sign delayed CETA trade accord
