European Parliament Approves Landmark CETA Free Trade Deal with Canada
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Independent] by Harry Cockburn - February 16, 2017
The European Parliament has approved a landmark free trade deal with Canada.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) has been seven years in the making and its ratification is set to eliminate almost all trade tariffs between the European Union and Canada.
But the deal has been mired in controversy over concerns it will undermine the EU’s environmental, labour and consumer standards, with campaigners warning it will empower big business and “destroy equality”.
MEPs overwhelmingly backed the deal with 408 in favour and 254 against.
The EU has said that existing trade with Canada, which currently amounts to more than €60bn a year (£51bn), will be boosted by 20 per cent.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the European Parliament building in Strasbourg...
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