French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal defended the European Union-Canada trade deal during a visit to Ottawa, saying he was confident it would go smoothly in his country despite setbacks in the Senate.

The French government postponed another vote on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) last month after the Senate refused to ratify it. The agreement has been criticized by farmers who say it leads to unfair competition from abroad.

“CETA is a beneficial agreement between Canada and France, as well as between Canada and Europe,” Attal said during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The agreement has been in force on a temporary basis since 2017 and only requires approval from the national parliament to come into full force. Over the past six years, trade between the two countries has increased by more than a third, and in a “balanced” way for French farmers, Attal told reporters.

“There will be a lot of losses in the French economy, essentially for both our economies, if this is not fully implemented,” he said.

He expressed regret over the Senate vote. While the rejection does not immediately threaten the deal, it is a blow to President Emmanuel Macron, who has cited CETA as an example of a favorable international deal the EU could strike. For the agreement to be fully ratified, the bill must return to the National Assembly.

Seventeen of the EU's 27 member states, plus the United Kingdom, have ratified the agreement.

Trudeau said there were benefits for French and Canadian workers and businesses, including farmers.

“I have great confidence in the French political class,” he said. “If a country does not want free trade with a progressive, open and responsible country like Canada, then with which country would it want to sign a free trade agreement?

Attal arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday and is expected to visit Quebec and Montreal.

— With the help of William Horobin.

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