A deal that would allow Canada to sell maple syrup duty-free in the EU and Europeans to ship more cheese to Canadian shops has become the focus of a battle with anti-globalization groups that is key to the future of Europe’s free trade agreements.Supporters of the huge deal say it would increase trade between the EU and Canada on a range of products, from cars to investment and farm products, by nearly a quarter, boosting the EU economy by €12-billion ($17.6-billion).
But anti-globalization and other groups emboldened by France’s call to suspend EU trade talks with the United States have turned their attention to the deal already reached with Canada which has not yet been approved.There is a growing public backlash in the West against free trade and globalization, which critics blame for factory closures, depressed wages and a widening gap between rich and poor. Britain’ …