Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the EU’s top officials will join forces Thursday and approve the broad outline of a landmark trade deal that would challenge the protectionism championed by US President Donald Trump. European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem on Tuesday announced the two sides had reached a “political agreement” on the EU … Read more
The European Union and Japan will hold a summit Thursday in hopes of sealing broad agreement on a massive trade deal after four years of tough negotiations. The landmark deal would mark a big victory for free trade just days before a G20 summit in Germany in which US President Donald Trump is expected to … Read more
European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker dispatched the EU’s top trade officials to Tokyo Thursday for crucial talks to seal a long-awaited deal with Japan. After four years of talks the two sides are working toward signing a deal at a G20 meeting in Hamburg next week, but Juncker said further work was needed. “There are … Read more
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that the whole world benefited from a strong European Union and that the bloc and his country needed to lead the international economy in challenging times. Trudeau told the European Parliament that the Union was an unprecedented model for peaceful cooperation in a speech that marked his … Read more
The European Union and Canada signed a free trade agreement on Sunday that aims to generate jobs and growth though it must still clear some 40 national and regional parliaments in Europe in the coming years to enter fully into force. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the treaty along with the heads of EU … Read more
The European Union and Canada have signed a long-delayed landmark trade deal, following weeks of uncertainty due to opposition in Belgium. The deal was signed in Brussels by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and top EU officials. The signing ceremony initially planned for Thursday had been cancelled after Belgium’s Wallonia region vetoed the agreement. All … Read more
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is finally on his way to Belgium to sign a long-delayed landmark trade deal with the European Union. He will attend a summit in Brussels where a signing ceremony planned for Thursday was cancelled after a Belgian region vetoed the agreement. All 28 EU states approved the deal on Friday … Read more
Protests against the agreement have been taking place outside the Walloon parliament in Belgium Canada and the European Union are to sign a long-delayed landmark trade deal at a summit in Brussels on Sunday. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described it as “great news” and said he looked forward to attending. A signing ceremony planned … Read more
Canada and the European Union say they remain hopeful a landmark free trade deal can go ahead despite three Belgian regions led by Wallonia blocking it. European Council President Donald Tusk said it was still possible Ceta could be signed as planned and Canada’s trade minister said the deal was “not dead”. But Belgium has … Read more
Belgium cannot sign a key EU trade deal with Canada, Prime Minister Charles Michel says, because of objections from one of its regions, Wallonia. His statement appeared to dash hopes the Ceta deal could be signed by EU leaders and Canada on Thursday. “We are not in a position to sign Ceta,” Mr Michel said … Read more
Emergency talks are under way in Brussels in an effort to save an EU free trade deal with Canada (Ceta), blocked by a Belgian region. European Parliament head Martin Schulz is to hold separate talks with Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and the head of Belgium’s Wallonia region. Ms. Freeland abandoned talks on Friday, after … Read more
The European Parliament president has called for emergency meetings to try to save a free trade deal with Canada. Martin Schulz asked for separate talks with Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and Paul Magnette, the head of Wallonia in Belgium, which has blocked a deal on the Ceta agreement. Mr Magnette is seeking clarity on … Read more
Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in cities across Germany against a proposed transatlantic trade deal between the EU and the US. Protesters say the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will lower European standards on food and environmental protection, and could lead to outsourcing and job-losses. Supporters of the deal say it … Read more