The European Parliament voted on Wednesday in favor of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the block and Canada, the BBC reported.
The European Parliament said the the deal, which had been negotiated for over five years, "could apply provisionally from as early as April" after 408 lawmakers supported it, while 254 voted against it. However, some aspects of the agreement, including investment protection and investment market access for portfolio investment, will have to be ratified by each EU member state before coming into force.
Meanwhile, a crowd opposing the deal gathered outside the building during the vote to protest against the agreement.
Image: EPA / PATRICK SEEGER
