Trudeau, Tusk praise EU-Canada partnership

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Council President Donald Tusk sang the praises of the bilateral relationship between Canada and the European Union on Wednesday, pledging to continue strengthening ties. Trudeau praised Tusk as "a good friend and strong ally." Tusk called Canada the EU's biggest and closest trans-Atlantic trade partner. 

Their comments came while Trudeau prepared to host a summit of leaders of the 28-country trade bloc in an effort to sell them on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Concluded in October 2016, the so-called "new generation" CETA significantly reduces tariff and non-tariff barriers between the EU and Canada.