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Finnish minister called on Europe to work to restore confidence in free trade

Xinhua, December 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Finnish minister for foreign trade and development Kai Mykkanen said on Friday that Europe must work to restore confidence in free trade in terms of labor rights.

Interviewed on national broadcaster Yle Radio, Mykkanen took up the image problem that free trade is regarded as a risk to workers. He said Europe must work to restore confidence in free trade in terms of labor rights.

The minister referred to recent difficulties in winning wide acceptance to the transatlantic free trade arrangements. He said there was resistance in the European Union (EU)-Canada arrangement even though the conflict-resolution system there matched European views of justice.

Mykkanen said free trade did not facilitate violations of workers' rights, but rather created new jobs.

The minister underlined the importance of accepting the legitimate interests of welfare states when making the rules of trade. He said the recent agreement between the EU and Canada was a good example to follow.

Mykkanen also said Africa would be a big player in the not-so-distant future. In the 2020s, Africa will be a major export target area for Finnish investment commodities, he said. Endit