Strong signal for free trade
The European Union and Canada are gravitating towards each other on fundamental issues.
Economic partnership. An important stage in a long journey: Following over four years of negotiations between Canada and the European Union (EU), Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission (photo from left) hailed the signing of the free trade agreement as a fundamental decision that goes in the right direction. That said, it has still to be ratified by the Canadian Parliament, the EU Parliament, and the EU member states. Harper said the agreement was the largest trade treaty his country had ever made. Barroso emphasised that both countries would also work far more closely together on regulation and standards. “This will end up costly procedures for consumers and producers in the European Union and Canada.”
