NGO attacks Czech ministries over talks on Canada trade deal

Neither Minister for Foreign Affairs Lubomír Zaorálek nor Minister for Industry and Trade Jan Mládek will be attending a meeting in Brussels on Friday at which EU ministers are due to discuss the details of a complex trade deal between Canada and the EU, according to the Czech NGO Iure. Iure is leading a campaign against the Canadian trade deal. The group has criticized the Czech stance and deal with Canada saying that it is the first of a new model of trade pacts allowing corporations to challenge and overthrow national legislation. The CETA deal is expected to be finalised in October and take effect from 2017 if it is not derailed by public opposition. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs said minister Mládek’s ministry was the lead one for the Friday meeting. The Ministry of Industry and Trade did not reply to questions.

Author: Chris Johnstone