The European deal would have given Canada preferential access to a market of 500 million people, more than the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), at a time when the U.S.-Canadian partnership is under pressure. Canada sends 75 percent of all its exports to the United States. "We are one of the most dependent countries in the world in regards to trade," said former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, who initiated negotiations for the EU-Canada trade deal during his tenure. With NAFTA under pressure and a proposed 12-nation Pacific area trade deal on life support, Canadian officials pushed hard to try and overcome hurdles to CETA in various European states. Opinion polls show most Canadians oppose the idea of an China agreement, which insiders say is at least a decade away.

Source: Egypt Independent October 25, 2016 05:03 UTC