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German Court Rejects Effort to Halt Canada-E.U. Trade Deal German Court Rejects Effort to Halt Canada-E.U. Trade Deal
(about 4 hours later)
BERLIN — Germany’s highest court has rejected calls from opponents of a Canada-European Union trade deal for an injunction that had the potential to spell an end to the pact. BERLIN — Germany’s highest court dismissed complaints on Thursday from opponents of a trade deal between Canada and the European Union, a legal effort that had the potential not only to torpedo the pact but also to spell trouble for a proposed agreement between Europe and the United States.
The Federal Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday against complaints about the trade deal known as CETA. Tens of thousands of citizens joined in two of those complaints. The ruling from the Federal Constitutional Court, though directly related to the Canadian trade deal, also affects negotiations for the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T.T.I.P. Aimed at creating the world’s largest trading zone, T.T.I.P. faces stiff headwinds in Europe and the United States after years of negotiations.
The plaintiffs wanted the government to be forced to vote against approving the accord at a European Union meeting set for Tuesday, pending full consideration by the court of their contention that the pact violates the principles of democracy. The ruling on Thursday concerned a series of complaints against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as CETA.
Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is also Germany’s economy minister, had warned that putting off CETA’s signing could effectively torpedo the accord. Those who filed the complaints wanted the German government to be legally required to vote against CETA at a European Union meeting next week. That would give the court time to consider allegations that the pact violated the principles of democracy.
The judges attached some conditions to their decision, intended to help address the plaintiffs’ concerns. Despite rejecting the complaints, the court attached conditions to the decision on Thursday that would seek to address the concerns.
Approval of the pact by European Union trade ministers at their meeting next week is needed for a planned summit meeting with Canada later in the month, where the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and his European counterparts are expected to sign the deal. Sigmar Gabriel, the German vice chancellor and economy minister, had warned that delaying the signing of CETA could destroy the trade deal.
Canada and the European Union have committed to signing the deal this year, with ratification in 2017. CETA was expected to be signed at a summit meeting later this month between Canada and European Union member states, before being ratified next year.
Opponents of CETA are deeply suspicious of the proposed Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States, which is still being negotiated, and view CETA as a blueprint for that accord. Mr. Gabriel said he was “very satisfied” with the judgment and cast the success with the Canadian agreement as paving the way for an eventual deal on T.T.I.P.
On Sept. 20, thousands of demonstrators marched at the European Union headquarters in Brussels to protest both deals, claiming they would hurt labor and consumer rights while undermining environmental protection. “It is also a step toward regulating globalization,” said Mr. Gabriel, who has faced strong opposition in his Social Democratic Party to both trade pacts. He is also anxious not to lose voters over the issue before federal elections next year.
CETA has drawn the ire of many in Europe who see it as a blueprint for the larger T.T.I.P.
Last month, thousands demonstrated against both deals outside the European Union’s offices in Brussels. Opponents argue that the agreements undermine environmental regulations while also damaging labor and consumer rights.
Troubles had arisen with CETA, Mr. Gabriel said, because some protesters had confused it with T.T.I.P. “I think that’s a great mistake,” he added.