Canada gets expanded quota for autos in EU talks, but is win solely ‘political’?

OTTAWA – The Canadian Press has learned that Canada has opened the door to an eight-fold increase in car sales to Europe under a proposed new trade deal.

That potential win for the Canadian auto sector is one of several new elements highlighted in a leaked document.

A seven-page German analysis, dated June 18, reveals several never-before-reported elements of the Harper government’s continuing negotiations with the European Union.

They include the possibility that Canada would eliminate its foreign ownership rules on uranium mining and lock in liberalized ownership rules in the lucrative telecom sector.

The note points out that last year Canada exported a mere 13,000 cars to the EU, while shipments the other way totalled 114,000.

The document also says that Canada is willing to get rid of non-resident ownership restrictions for the uranium industry, which cap foreign ownership of mines at 49 per cent.