STRASBOURG, France — The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ban imports of seal products in an effort to force Canada to end its annual seal hunt, the world’s largest.
The Canadian government reacted sharply to the move, with Trade Minister Stockwell Day promising that Ottawa will challenge the ban and take the 27-nation bloc to the world trade body if the new law does not exempt Canada.
The strain in relations came on the eve of a key summit between Canada and the European Union in Prague where they are expected to launch negotiations on a wide-ranging free trade agreement.
The European Parliament voted to endorse a bill that said commercial seal hunting, notably in Canada, is “inherently inhumane.”
Canada’s East Coast seal hunt kills an average of 300,000 harp seals.
