EU Seeking Conclusion of CETA Deal With Canada in October 2016

The European Union and Canada plan to conclude the CETA trade deal in October 2016, an EU official said.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The EU member states are willing to sign a trade agreement with Canada during the EU-Canada summit scheduled for October 2016, Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Lilianne Ploumen said Friday.

"We discussed a draft trade and investment agreement with Canada today. Member states are very supportive of the agreement, it's a good agreement for the EU, and our aim is for it to be signed at an EU-Canada summit next October. The Commission confirmed its intention to submit a proposal in June 2016 for signature and provisional application of CETA [the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement]," Ploumen said at a press conference.

In 2013, the European Union and Canada reached a political agreement on the key elements of CETA, which stipulates free trade regime between Ottawa and the 28-nation bloc, however, the trade negotiating mandate was made public only in December 2015, sparking controversy over the extra secrecy surrounding it.

The EU-Canada trade agreement is opposed by many Europeans, who claim that the deal would undermine standards and regulations on environmental protection, health and safety, as well as workers’ rights.