Canada, EU fail to settle differences over free trade pact

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada and the European Union failed to settle their differences on a proposed free trade deal this week at top-level talks to hammer out an agreement that is already well behind schedule. Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht spent Wednesday and Thursday in Ottawa discussing contentious issues including agricultural […] Read more



CWB not commenting on talk of sales to Iran

Reading Time: < 1 minute The head of the Canadian Wheat Board on Thursday declined to comment on whether the board might be planning to sell wheat or barley to Iran, but added that “we sell wheat to Iran when they need it.” CWB CEO Ian White told Reuters, “We’ve often sold wheat to Iran and right now I wouldn’t […] Read more

Supply management a sore spot for Canada/EU trade pact

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada and the European Union will need to put in “quite a lot of hard work” to settle several key differences in talks on a proposed free trade deal, a senior official said Thursday. Canada, keen to diversify its exports away from the United States, opened a ninth round of negotiations with the European Union […] Read more


BHP’s Potash bid puts pro-business Ottawa to test

Reading Time: 3 minutes (Reuters) — Canada’s Conservative government will put its pro-business reputation on the line when it decides whether to let a foreign firm buy up resource giant PotashCorp — and Ottawa will win enemies whichever way it turns. If it says yes, it will alienate supporters in Saskatchewan, whose right-leaning government both backs the federal Conservatives […] Read more