EU signs Canada trade pact, rejects 'post-truth' critics

The European Union and Canada signed a trade pact on Sunday (30 October), brushing aside concerns that the opening of markets could have negative consequences for European standards and economic interests.

The treaty, known as Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta), was endorsed by Canada’s liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau and top EU officials in Brussels.

“It was not easy to get here. But as a Canadian proverb says, 'patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but ...