Negotiating position from October suggests exemptions for agriculture, telecommunications
Leaked documents suggest Canada is seeking to carve out telecommunications and agriculture from any new trade agreement with the European Union. But there is no exemption for water services, a sore point with critics of the negotiations with the world’s richest market.
Trade Minister Ed Fast has called a European trade, services and investment pact one of the Conservative government’s top priorities, arguing it will spur about $12 billion in additional economic activity. The government has said it wants to reach a deal this year with the 27 nations of the EU, and negotiations are set to resume again later this month.
But little is known about what has gone on behind closed doors since talks began in 2009. Read more here.
