http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/top-canadian-official-says-fta-deal-with-the-eu-is-imminent/

http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/top-canadian-official-says-fta-deal-with-the-eu-is-imminent/
By Martin Banks - 24th January 2011
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“I expect our producers will take full advantage of this”
Ross Hornby
Canada's ambassador to the EU says he is confident a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU will be signed this year.

Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Ross Hornby said that "rapid progress" had been made in negotiations between the two sides since talks on an FTA started in 2009.

The start of duty-free access to the EU for Canadian beef producers last November was the "first step" towards a fully-fledged FTA, said Hornby.

He was speaking at an event to mark successfully-completed negotiations to give Canada beef producers duty free access to the EU market.

This is estimated to be worth more than €7.3m annually for Canada.

Hornby said, "I am extremely pleased that Canada for the first time in 21 years has been able to regain access to the EU markets.

"I expect our producers will take full advantage of this.

"I am equally pleased to see the rapid progress in the FTA talks and I hope that 2011 will be a big year for concluding these negotiations."