Canada says European Parliament ban on seal imports won’t prevent free-trade deal with EU

September 16th, 2009 Canada won't block Nortel sale to EricssonTORONTO — Canada's industry minister says the government won't block the $1.1 billion sale of Nortel Networks' wireless division to Sweden's Ericsson. Industry Minister Tony Clement said Wednesday there is no basis for a federal review of the deal on national security grounds.

July 27th, 2009 EU gives final OK to seal product banBRUSSELS — European Union nations gave their final approval Monday to a ban on imports of seal products in an effort to force Canada to end its annual seal hunt. A majority of the EU's 27 member states see the way Canada conducts its hunt, the world's largest, as inhumane.

July 10th, 2009 Senate votes to permit drug imports from CanadaWASHINGTON — People in the United States could get lower-cost drugs from Canada over the Internet under a plan that has passed the Senate. The plan, sponsored by Louisiana Republican David Vitter and approved 55-36, dealt a defeat to the powerful drug lobby, which has so far prevailed in defeating widespread imports of drugs from Canada and other places where prices are far lower than in the United States.

June 28th, 2009 Jordan, Canada sign free trade agreementAMMAN, Jordan — Canada has signed a free trade agreement with Jordan, its first with an Arab country. The agreement, signed Sunday in Jordan's capital, Amman, will give the Mideast country preferential trade conditions, including full exemption from customs duties for Jordanian goods.

June 18th, 2009 Canadian seal hunt experiences drop in catchesST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland — The global recession, plummeting pelt prices and the prospect of a European ban on seal products dramatically lowered the number of seals killed in this year's hunt, Canadian officials said Thursday.

June 18th, 2009 Number of kills in Canadian seal hunt dropsTORONTO — The global recession, plummeting pelt prices and the prospect of a European ban on seal products dramatically lowered the number of seals killed in this year's hunt, Canadian officials said Thursday. About 70,000 harp seals were hunted this year out of a commercial quota of 273,000 animals, said Fisheries and Oceans Canada spokesman Scott Cantin.

June 5th, 2009 Canada interested in new US free trade dealTORONTO — Canada is interested in a free trade deal with the United States that would open up local government procurements to both countries. The interest comes as Canadian companies continue to report difficulties in winning government contracts in U.S states and cities because of "Buy American" provisions in President Barack Obama's stimulus bill.

May 10th, 2009 LONDON - Canada's new opposition leader Michael Ignatieff has denounced European animal right activists including Sir Paul McCartney for their hostility to seal hunting. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Ignatieff hit out at last week's vote by the European Parliament to ban the sale of seal products.

May 6th, 2009 EU, Canada start talks on free trade agreementPRAGUE — The European Union and Canada delayed the signing of a deal Wednesday to open their aviation markets to each other — for procedural reasons, an official said — as strains over a new EU ban on seal products intensified. The two sides also opened free trade negotiations and signed an air safety agreement.

May 6th, 2009 EU, Canada to sign deal to open aviation marketsPRAGUE — The European Union and Canada were expected to sign a deal Wednesday that would open their aviation markets to each other and begin free trade negotiations, despite strains over a new EU ban on seal products. The aviation deal is the EU's most far-reaching and open aviation pact with a trade partner and is meant to spur trans-Atlantic trade and competition.

May 5th, 2009 EU Parliament passes import ban on seal productsSTRASBOURG, France — The European Parliament has passed a bill that will impose an import ban on seal products, a move meant to force an end to Canada's annual seal hunt, which is the world's largest. The bill says commercial seal hunting, notably in Canada, is "inherently inhumane." It passed the EU assembly by 550 to 49 votes on Tuesday.

May 5th, 2009 EU takes aim at Canada, bans seal productsSTRASBOURG, France — The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ban imports of seal products, including fur coats and even some omega-3 pills, in an effort to force Canada to end its annual seal hunt, the world's largest. The Canadian government reacted sharply to the move, with Trade Minister Stockwell Day promising that Ottawa will challenge the ban and take the 27-nation bloc to the world trade body if the new law does not exempt Canada.

April 28th, 2009 China and Peru seal free trade pactBEIJING — China and Peru signed a free trade pact on Tuesday, state media said, part of Beijing's efforts to bolster ties with Latin America. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and his Peruvian counterpart, Luis Giampietri Rojas, witnessed the signing following talks at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

April 27th, 2009 EU approves trade talks with CanadaLUXEMBOURG — The European Union endorsed plans Monday to open negotiations with Canada on a free trade pact that could see easier temporary movement of skilled wokers and reduction in rules and red tape. The negotiations, which could last two years, are to be officially launched at an EU-Canada leaders summit May 6, in Prague.

April 24th, 2009 LONDON - Former 'Baywatch' star Pamela Anderson has made a personal plea to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin asking him to help her ban the slaughter of baby seals in her native Canada. The Russian leader was recently applauded by animal lovers all over the world for overseeing a ban on the hunting of young harp seals, and now Anderson has asked him to urge Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to follow his lead, reported femalefirst.co.uk 'The Canadian government has refused to budge on this issue despite widespread protests and international bans on the trade in baby seal skins.