Brussels | Reuters –– The European Commission bowed to pressure to give Europe’s parliaments the right to ratify a landmark free-trade deal with Canada, a decision meant to address public concerns but which could wreck Europe’s broader trade strategy. In the face of popular suspicion about secretive trade deals benefiting big companies, Commission President Jean-Claude […] Read more
EU bows to pressure, gives member parliaments say in Canada trade deal
Greece wants Canada-EU pact changed to protect ‘feta’ name
Brussels | Reuters — Athens will not back a multi-billion dollar trade pact between Canada and the European Union unless the deal is changed to specify that only Greece can use the term “feta” for its salty white cheese, according to a document seen by Reuters. After five years of difficult negotiations, Canada and the […] Read more
Russia demands changes to Ukraine-EU trade deal
Brussels | Reuters — Russia has demanded changes to a free-trade deal between Ukraine and the European Union, underlining that Moscow was not satisfied by a last-minute concession from the EU to delay implementing the pact at the heart of the conflict in Ukraine. In a letter to the EU trade commissioner, seen by Reuters […] Read more
Deal or no deal? EU-Canada FTA seen faltering at final hurdle
Brussels/Ottawa | Reuters — Canada and the European Union are struggling to finalize a multibillion-dollar trade pact six months after political leaders said it was sealed, an embarrassment for Brussels as it seeks a far bigger deal with the U.S. Over a celebratory lunch last October, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President […] Read more
Europe’s fear of U.S. hormones, GMOs sows divide in trade talks
Brussels | Reuters — Europe’s reluctance to buy hormone meat or genetically modified (GM) food from the U.S. has exposed an “enormous gulf” that threatens the world’s biggest trade pact, industry and labour groups told EU and U.S. negotiators Wednesday. Eight months into talks to create a transatlantic pact encompassing almost half the world’s economy, […] Read more
Say cheese: EU strikes trade deal with Canada
The European Union and Canada agreed in principle on a multi-billion-dollar trade pact Friday that will integrate two of the world’s largest economies and paves the way for Europe to clinch an even bigger deal with the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso sealed the pact — […] Read more
EU, Canada near trade pact after breaking impasse
The European Union and Canada are expected to close negotiations on a multi-billion-dollar trade deal on Friday that will integrate two of the world’s biggest economies — if they can overcome final disagreements ranging from medicine patents to feta cheese. Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will meet at […] Read more
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