French PM, Trudeau defend Canada-EU trade pact [Video]

Prime Ministers Gabriel Attal of France and Canada’s Justin Trudeau on Thursday defended a trade pact between Canada and the European Union whose ratification has been stymied in France’s legislature.

The pair expressed confidence in the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), with Attal calling it a “win-win agreement” despite opposition in his own country.

“The figures do not lie,” the visiting Attal told a joint press conference. “Since it came into force, trade between our two countries has progressed by more than a third.”

Trudeau meanwhile said Canada would continue to “demonstrate the positive impact on citizens of trade and responsible commerce between friends and allies who share the same values.”

Following its approval by the European parliamentin early 2017, the trade agreement has …