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CETA summit most likely cancelled, Council of Canadians available for comment

We stand with Wallonia

Major negotiations on CETA (the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) to break a deadlock with the Belgian region of Wallonia have failed, and an upcoming summit on the deal is now unlikely to take place. The Council of Canadians is available for comment on these significant developments, which are a virtual death blow to the agreement.

“It’s time to take a long hard look at CETA and what this breakdown means for corporate-led globalization, including for other controversial deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” says Sujata Dey, Trade Campaigner with the Council of Canadians, who is currently in Belgium challenging the deal. “It’s time for a fundamental shift toward international agreements that put people and the planet before corporate profits. That’s the message from Europe today.”

“This major setback for CETA is not just because of Wallonia alone. There is deep, widespread opposition to CETA and many millions of people agree with Wallonia’s stance. Thousands across Europe and Canada spoke up and took action to make this happen,” says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, currently in Germany campaigning against CETA. “This collapse of attempts to reach a deal on CETA shows governments should listen to people instead of trying to push these deals through against the wishes of the people they’re elected to represent.”

The Council of Canadians recently organized a visit to Canada by prominent CETA opponent and Member of European Parliament José Bové. Following intense public pressure, a decision to expel Bové from Canada was reversed.

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