Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 15 February 2017: EU approved trade deal with Canada

The European Union Parliament has approved a free trade agreement between EU and Canada. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been five years in the making and its ratification is set to drop all trade barriers between the EU and Canada. Debate lasts almost three hours and the deal was approved by 408 voters, 254 was against. Hundreds of protesters showed up in Strasbourg claiming that only big companies will benefit on this agreement and that will change food safety.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that “EU companies and citizens will start to reap the benefits the agreement offers as soon as possible.” The agreement still requires ratification by the parliaments of EU member states.