A constitutional court in Germany has quashed a legal petition, submitted by some activist groups, seeking cancellation of the much awaited Canada-European Union free trade deal.The activists claimed that the controversial trade agreement will be partially implemented before the ratification of all national parliaments. Rejecting the petition, the court reportedly ruled that by signing the trade agreement the government can only fast track the agreement’s EU-wide possibilities and provisions.Meanwhile, it observed that certain sensitive trade factors like intellectual property rights and maritime transport must need the parliament’s assent.It further pointed out that a separate ‘Investment Court System’ cannot be established without the assent of the respective parliament.The protesters, comprising of three major activist groups- ‘Compact’, ‘Foodwatch’, and ‘More Democracy’-, had organized several demonstrations and awareness camps across Germany against the trade deal.They reportedly acquired over one lakh signatures against the controversial trade deal, which is expected to be signed on 27 October.
The German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was the biggest supporter of the trade deal. He managed to grab the support of his Social Democratic Party, which is one of the main allies of ruling Christian Democratic Party –led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel- in favor of the CETA. The Christian Democrats were also very vocal about the deal.Many politicians and economist in the country strongly believe that the CETA would strengthen the Economy of EU and European countries.The deal was initially proposed on late 2009. The negotiations between the EU and Canada started on that year itself. It successfully ended on mid-2014.The CETA- Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement- aims to quash nearly ninety-eight per cent tariffs between the EU and Canada.
vignesh
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