Rising protectionism complicating softwood, Canada-EU trade deal: feds
HANGZHOU, China — Concerns about the impact of protectionist sentiments on key Canadian trade talks led senior government members to dedicate some of their scarce face time to the issue Sunday with G20 peers.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself was expected to discuss the subject when he met with European leaders on the margins of the G20 leaders’ summit in China, International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said.
Freeland noted that growing movements against trade liberalization have complicated always-delicate talks with the United States on softwood lumber.
These attitudes, she added, have also affected Canada’s push to sign a free trade deal with the European Union, also known as CETA.