Freeland, more hopeful about saving Canada-EU free trade deal
Posted Oct 23, 2016 8:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BRUSSELS – International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland was sounding more hopeful about the future of the Canada-EU free trade deal after meeting Saturday morning with European Parliament President Martin Schulz in Brussels.
She said she was heading back to Canada but hoped to return with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sign the CETA accord, short for Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
“The ball is in Europe’s court and it’s time for Europe to finish doing its job,” she said.
It was a significant change in tone from Friday when Freeland walked away from talks on the verge of tears, saying the EU appeared incapable of signing the deal.
The Belgian region of Wallonia affirmed Saturday that it still stands in the way of the accord between Canada and the 28-nation European Union, but its president, Paul Magnette, and Schulz were both cautiously optimistic the standoff could be resolved within days.
After Saturday’s separate talks with Freeland and Magnette, Schulz said he was hopeful a compromise could be found to clear the way for Thursday’s planned EU-Canada summit.bur
