The European Union (EU) and Canada are working to overcome doubts of other nations included in an EU-Canada free trade deal. The EU and Canada Wednesday announced a declaration spelling out the limits of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, to ease other EU nations, such as Austria, according to Reuters. Trade officials from Canada say the legally binding declaration on key issues would add no new elements to the deal, which Austria’s chancellor opposes in its current form. The trade agreement has been a key target of protests by unions and environmental groups who say it will worsen labor conditions and allow big business to challenge governments across Europe. The EU is expected to vote on the deal October 18th before a planned signing at an EU-Canada summit later in the month.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.