EU approves contentious free trade pact with Canada despite protests

‘The European Parliament has approved a landmark free trade deal between the EU and Canada. Hundreds gathered in Strasbourg, France to protest the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
The approval allows CETA to come into force provisionally in the coming months.
The EU parliament voted to support most of the terms of the contentious trade deal, notably tariff reduction, which will apply eight years after negotiations began.
The members of parliament approved the deal with 408 votes in favor, 254 against and 33 abstentions. At the same time, more controversial aspects of the pact, including the secret corporate court system, will require ratification by EU member states which may reportedly take years.’
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