International News

OTTAWA, Oct 24 (APP/AFP): Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday she remains hopeful that a landmark Canada-EU trade deal will be signed despite pushback from a region of Belgium. “CETA is not dead,” Freeland said after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke by telephone with European Council President Donald Tusk. Trudeau is still planning to fly to Brussels on Thursday to sign the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, according to a spokesman. In a statement, the prime minister said: “The EU and its member states should continue to work towards the summit on Thursday where the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement will be signed.” Freeland, who walked out of emergency talks to try to salvage the deal after seven years of negotiations, commented: “Canada is ready to sign CETA, but the ball is in Europe’s court and it’s time for Europe to do its job.” “We wish them well and hope they can get there,” she said, adding that “this deal is done. It’s time to move on, get it signed, and then get it ratified.”