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| German top court backs EU-Canada trade deal CETA | German top court backs EU-Canada trade deal CETA |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Germany's Constitutional Court has rejected a legal challenge to the EU-Canada free trade deal (CETA) from campaigners who call it undemocratic. | Germany's Constitutional Court has rejected a legal challenge to the EU-Canada free trade deal (CETA) from campaigners who call it undemocratic. |
| The campaigners object to the fact that parts of CETA will be implemented before all national parliaments in the EU have voted on it. | The campaigners object to the fact that parts of CETA will be implemented before all national parliaments in the EU have voted on it. |
| EU trade ministers are to vote on CETA next week. It requires unanimous support. If they all approve it, the deal can be signed on 27 October. | EU trade ministers are to vote on CETA next week. It requires unanimous support. If they all approve it, the deal can be signed on 27 October. |
| CETA would remove many trade barriers. | CETA would remove many trade barriers. |
| More than 125,000 people signed a petition organised by three activist groups aimed at blocking CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. The groups are Compact, Foodwatch and More Democracy. | More than 125,000 people signed a petition organised by three activist groups aimed at blocking CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. The groups are Compact, Foodwatch and More Democracy. |
| 'Race to the bottom' | |
| Opponents fear that CETA will be used as a model to push through an even more controversial EU-US trade deal called TTIP, much of which remains to be negotiated. | Opponents fear that CETA will be used as a model to push through an even more controversial EU-US trade deal called TTIP, much of which remains to be negotiated. |
| The activists argue that CETA and similar deals put job security and social welfare at risk, in a global "race to the bottom" that serves the interests of a wealthy elite. | |
| German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has battled to win his Social Democrats (SPD) round to CETA. The SPD is in government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), who strongly support CETA. | German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has battled to win his Social Democrats (SPD) round to CETA. The SPD is in government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), who strongly support CETA. |
| Mr Gabriel said he was happy with Thursday's court ruling. CETA, he said, would act as "protection against having a bad deal with the US". | |
| He said the opponents were mixing up CETA with TTIP. The EU negotiated safeguards for public services, Europe's cultural heritage and the cherished precautionary principle, he said. | |
| The EU's precautionary principle means extensive risk assessments have to be carried out before a chemical or medicine can be marketed. In the US, the onus is on proving that a substance is hazardous before it can be withdrawn from sale. | |
| Mr Gabriel said he hoped that sealing the CETA deal could enable the EU to raise other trade deals up to its level. | |
| Many politicians and business leaders argue that CETA will provide a much-needed economic boost, reducing bureaucracy and creating jobs. | Many politicians and business leaders argue that CETA will provide a much-needed economic boost, reducing bureaucracy and creating jobs. |
| At a glance: CETA | At a glance: CETA |
| Would CETA be a good model for the UK? | Would CETA be a good model for the UK? |
| European Parliament briefing on CETA |