Canada says it is about to conclude a ˜comprehensive™ trade agreement with the European Union.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a message posted on Twitter on Wednesday, œWe will soon complete negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union.”
A spokesman for the Canadian premier said Harper is set to travel to Brussels on Thursday to conclude the deal.
Meanwhile, John Clancy, the European Union Trade spokesman, stated that discussions are continuing at the highest level between the EU and Canada œtowards a comprehensive free trade deal (CETA) – with the hope to conclude the negotiations in the coming days.”
An agreement-in-principle is expected to be concluded on Friday by the Canadian prime minister and Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission.
According to official sources, the agreement-in-principle should be sent back to Canada for final approval.
Talks were launched in 2009 and were expected to be concluded by late 2012. However, the negotiations faced a deadlock over several issues, largely in agriculture.
Under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, Canada will permit a doubling of the EU quota on cheese exports to the country.
Canada called for greater European access for its beef while the EU sought to decrease tariffs of up to 300 percent, which protects Canada™s supply-managed dairy industry from imports of European cheeses.
On Wednesday, the Dairy Farmers of Canada said it would not back a deal that would allow the European Union to sell more cheese to Canada.
œThis (potential) deal would displace our local products with subsidized cheeses from EU and risk our small businesses being shut down or put out of business. This is unacceptable,” the Dairy Farmers of Canada said.
Rudy Husny, spokesman for Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast said that Harper is committed to safeguarding Canada™s supply-managed agricultural sectors.
MR/HSN
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