BERLIN – Germany’s highest court has rejected calls from opponents of a Canada-European Union trade deal for an injunction that had the potential to spell an end to the pact.
The Federal constitutional Court ruled Thursday against complaints over the trade deal, known as CETA. Tens of thousands of citizens joined in two of those complaints.
The plaintiffs wanted the government to be forced to vote against approving the accord at an EU meeting Oct. 18 pending full consideration by the court of their contention that it violates the principles of democracy.
Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is also Germany’s economy minister, had warned putting off CETA’s signing could effectively torpedo the accord.
READ MORE: CETA: Protests against Canada-EU trade deal held across Germany
The judges attached some conditions to their decision designed to help address the plaintiffs’ concerns.
Approval of the pact by EU trade ministers at their meeting next week is needed for a planned Canada-EU summit to take place later in the month where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his EU counterparts are expected to sign the deal.
VIDEO: Europe’s free trade deal with Canada lauded by EU Commission President
Canada and the EU have committed to signing the deal this year and ratification in 2017.
International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has called the Canada-EU treaty a gold-plated deal that, once ratified, will give Canada better access to a market of more than 400 million people.
Opponents of CETA are deeply suspicious of the proposed Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, with the United States, which is still being negotiated, and view CETA as a blueprint for that accord.
READ MORE: Canada-EU trade deal sealed as protests against US-EU deal continues
On Sept. 20, thousands of demonstrators marched at the European Union headquarters in Brussels to protest both deals, claiming they would hurt labour and consumer rights while undermining environmental protection.
Freeland, who recently attended meetings in different countries in an attempt to save the trade pact, said the Liberals have been trying to address those concerns. She said it would improve free trade, streamline dispute resolution and eliminate barriers to trade.
CETA was negotiated under the former Conservative government, but the Liberals supported it while in opposition.
VIDEO: The federal government says it has completed a legal review of the Canada-EU free trade agreement and it expects the deal to take effect next year.
– with files from The Associated Press
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