9,000 protesters march against EU trade deals with U.S., Canada in Brussels

Source: Xinhua   2016-09-21 04:41:59

By Liang Linlin, Pang Yuwei, Cheng Yu

BRUSSELS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 9,000 protesters paraded in the heart of Brussels around the European Union (EU) institutions to demonstrate against the bloc's trade deals with the United States and Canada late Tuesday, fearing those agreements would harm Europe's industries and social benefits.

Two meters-high inflatable Trojan horses, labeled "TTIP" and "CETA" respectively, were placed on a square between headquarters of the European Commission and the Council of the EU, implying the EU-U.S. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada were conspiratorial pacts.

More than 50 groups participated into the march, which occupied some two km of a street toward the square, blocking the traffic at rush time. Organizers expected 10,000 to 15,000 people to attend the demonstrations but police put a "definitive" number at 9,000.

"The agreements will change all the rules in EU countries. We need to take control of our own life," Anastasia, a member of European NGO EuropeanLeft,told Xinhua.

"We have to make a living," a group of farmers yelled. "Pay attention! It's the U.S. that wins in the end, " said Eric Claeys, organizer of these farmers. "The intrusion of American agriculture industry is our main concern. American's standard for agricultural products like meat and vegetable is much lower than Europeans'," he added.

The demonstration, following several such ones in German cities, is part of a series of planned activities against the TTIP and CETA. Another protest is planned in Bratislava on Friday when EU trade ministers are expected to discuss the two deals.

A spokesman of the European Commission, the bloc's executive body conducting the trade talks, said ministers would be briefed on the state of negotiations and discuss prospectives of the trade agreements on Friday.

Europe has recently seen increased anger and resistance toward the two deals from politicians and worker unions. This comes as parties hope to conclude TTIP by the end of this year and gain approvals on CETA from member states and the European Parliament.

French President Francois Hollande earlier criticized TTIP as "clearly unbalanced" and his government refrained support for continuing the talks while German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel believed the deal had "de facto failed" as Brussels and Washington reached no agreement after three years of negotiations.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom earlier defended TTIP and CETA, saying free trade agreements benefited exports and boosted jobs. Particularly, she spoke highly of Canadian deal, applauding it as the best one Brussels had ever negotiated.

For TTIP, which is due to have the 15th round of talks in the first week of October, the commissioner warned that reaching the expected deadline would become "less likely as time went on."

The Commission as well signaled that it did not exclude the possibility of that the lengthy TTIP talks may involve new U.S. president.

"The commission stands ready to continue negotiating with the current (U.S.) administration and with the next U.S. administration,"the European Commission spokesperson Daniel Rosario told Tuesday's routine press briefing.

The EU and the United States have failed to reach even one single chapters in their TTIP talks so far and observers cautioned that the chance of wrapping up the deal by this year was getting more and more slim as the result of lack of support from some members and citizens.

CETA, already concluded between Brussels and Toronto, as well faces some doubts and concerns across the continent.

Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Xinhuanet

9,000 protesters march against EU trade deals with U.S., Canada in Brussels

Source: Xinhua 2016-09-21 04:41:59

By Liang Linlin, Pang Yuwei, Cheng Yu

BRUSSELS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 9,000 protesters paraded in the heart of Brussels around the European Union (EU) institutions to demonstrate against the bloc's trade deals with the United States and Canada late Tuesday, fearing those agreements would harm Europe's industries and social benefits.

Two meters-high inflatable Trojan horses, labeled "TTIP" and "CETA" respectively, were placed on a square between headquarters of the European Commission and the Council of the EU, implying the EU-U.S. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada were conspiratorial pacts.

More than 50 groups participated into the march, which occupied some two km of a street toward the square, blocking the traffic at rush time. Organizers expected 10,000 to 15,000 people to attend the demonstrations but police put a "definitive" number at 9,000.

"The agreements will change all the rules in EU countries. We need to take control of our own life," Anastasia, a member of European NGO EuropeanLeft,told Xinhua.

"We have to make a living," a group of farmers yelled. "Pay attention! It's the U.S. that wins in the end, " said Eric Claeys, organizer of these farmers. "The intrusion of American agriculture industry is our main concern. American's standard for agricultural products like meat and vegetable is much lower than Europeans'," he added.

The demonstration, following several such ones in German cities, is part of a series of planned activities against the TTIP and CETA. Another protest is planned in Bratislava on Friday when EU trade ministers are expected to discuss the two deals.

A spokesman of the European Commission, the bloc's executive body conducting the trade talks, said ministers would be briefed on the state of negotiations and discuss prospectives of the trade agreements on Friday.

Europe has recently seen increased anger and resistance toward the two deals from politicians and worker unions. This comes as parties hope to conclude TTIP by the end of this year and gain approvals on CETA from member states and the European Parliament.

French President Francois Hollande earlier criticized TTIP as "clearly unbalanced" and his government refrained support for continuing the talks while German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel believed the deal had "de facto failed" as Brussels and Washington reached no agreement after three years of negotiations.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom earlier defended TTIP and CETA, saying free trade agreements benefited exports and boosted jobs. Particularly, she spoke highly of Canadian deal, applauding it as the best one Brussels had ever negotiated.

For TTIP, which is due to have the 15th round of talks in the first week of October, the commissioner warned that reaching the expected deadline would become "less likely as time went on."

The Commission as well signaled that it did not exclude the possibility of that the lengthy TTIP talks may involve new U.S. president.

"The commission stands ready to continue negotiating with the current (U.S.) administration and with the next U.S. administration,"the European Commission spokesperson Daniel Rosario told Tuesday's routine press briefing.

The EU and the United States have failed to reach even one single chapters in their TTIP talks so far and observers cautioned that the chance of wrapping up the deal by this year was getting more and more slim as the result of lack of support from some members and citizens.

CETA, already concluded between Brussels and Toronto, as well faces some doubts and concerns across the continent.

[Editor: huaxia]
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