Barry Ellsworth
13 October 2016•Update: 14 October 2016
By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Ont.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Europe on Thursday that a free trade deal with Canada is essential or the European Union would endanger its relevance in world trade, Canadian media reported.
Trudeau made the statement during a press conference in the Canadian capital of Ottawa as he officially welcomed French Prime Minister Manuel Valls for a three-day visit.
The Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) has it critics and Germany’s top court threw out a challenge that would have killed the deal, the Canadian Press [CP] wire service reported Thursday. Tens of thousands of citizens were behind the court challenge, the CP said. Critics argue that the deal violates the principles of democracy. Thousands marched Sept. 20 at the EU headquarters in Brussels. They are worried the CETA deal would hurt labor and encroach on environmental measures, the CP reported.
But Trudeau said the EU would damage its “usefulness” if the deal were not signed as soon as possible.
“If, in a week or two, we see that Europe is unable to sign a progressive trade agreement with a country like Canada, well then with whom will Europe do business with in years to come?” Trudeau said, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said.
“In this post-Brexit situation where there are a great many questions about Europe’s usefulness, if Europe cannot manage to sign this agreement, then that sends a very clear message not just to Europe, but to the whole world, that Europe is choosing a path that is not productive for its citizens or the world. And that would be a shame.”
Valls said France wants the CETA signed because it would be good for the economies of Canada and the EU and create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.
“If the EU does not participate in a positive, win-win agreement with Canada, then with whom will the EU be able to build such free trade agreements?” he asked.
The French prime minister also called Canada a key partner in fighting both the “scourge” of terrorism and climate change.
Valls praised Trudeau for reclaiming Canada’s former prominence on the world stage.
The pair also discussed Trudeau’s commitment to send peacekeepers to West Africa to battle militants.
