Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) called on Europe yesterday to immediatly apply a bilateral free trade agreement while the two sides work through a final hurdle pertaining to agricultural quotas.
Trudeau spoke by telephone with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker late Tuesday to try to get the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) rolling, according to a readout of their conversation released the following morning.
"Noting the important role that CETA will serve in increasing jobs, strengthening economic relations and promoting new economic opportunities for Canadian and European businesses, Prime Minister Trudeau urged proceeding with the provisional application of the agreement as soon as possible so that its benefits can be realised," it said.
The pact has been approved by both the European and Canadian parliaments but must still be ratified by all European Union member states.
On Monday, a European diplomat and a Canadian official said the agreement was weeks away from implementation.
All that was left was to decide what cheeses Canadian distributors would import. They have sent their demands to Ottawa for what varieties they wish to bring in to sell to domestic clients.
Canada's trade minister is expected to make an announcement soon, his spokeswoman told AFP.
Trudeau's office said both he and Juncker are "enthusiastic" about the free trade deal.
