Deal with Canada advanced - EU parliaments must prevail

OPPONENTS of the EU’s trade deal with Canada — Ceta — which was passed a major hurdle yesterday afternoon, say it is profoundly anti-democratic and tips the balance against governments in favour of international corporations — no matter where they are based.

They say it and TTIP override long-established protections for workers, the environment and the European idea of a social contract.

Its advocates say the deal, and Brexit negotiators will be dismayed to learn that it’s taken seven years to get this far, could boost trade between Canada and the EU by 20%.