Harper won’t put a timeline on free-trade talks with European Union

LONDON, UK – Prime Minister Stephen Harper says arbitrary timelines won’t determine when Canada inks a free-trade pact with the European Union.

Harper told journalists today in London that his government will only agree to a deal when it meets Canada’s best interests.

He says Canada has made a lot of progress on the talks, and expects those discussions to continue while he is in Europe this week.

Canada is under pressure to conclude a deal before the European Union turns its attention to free trade negotiations with the United States this summer.

Among the issues on the negotiating table are financial services, Canadian beef exports, country-of-origin rules for vehicles, procurement limits for provinces and municipalities and drug patent protection.

Harper is in London until Thursday, when he leaves for Paris followed by Dublin before joining other G8 leaders in Northern Ireland for their annual summit.