Embasssy reports, “Plans are in the works for Canadian ministers and European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht to meet in November to talk about the Canada-EU trade deal, as negotiations near a close. Observers have suggested that the possible meeting would take place in Brussels. …Both Canadian and European officials have said they would like to finish the deal by the end of this year. …Stuart Trew, a trade campaigner with the Council of Canadians, said (unresolved) political issues would likely include intellectual property rights—especially on pharmaceuticals— geographic indicators, and rules of origin. …Mr. Trew, who participated in an Oct. 5 briefing for civil society stakeholders interested in the deal, said Canada’s chief negotiator noted during the briefing that Canadian ministers would likely be looking at going to Brussels in mid-November. …Mr. Trew also noted in a blog post that the EU Commission would look to present a ‘final or close-to-final package on CETA’ at a Nov. 29 meeting of the EU’s foreign affairs council.”
The full article is at http://www.embassymag.ca/news/2012/10/23/canada-eu-considering-november-ceta-meeting/42685.
