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The political agreement on the deal has now been sent back to the provinces for final approval. If they sign off, the announcement of an agreement-in-principle could be made “within days,” said one provincial source.

Adam Taylor, communications director for trade minister Ed Fast, said work is ongoing. “Our government has been clear that a final agreement must serve the interests of all provinces and territories — our partners in this — as well as the broader interests of the Canadian economy.”

But it is understood that negotiators have agreed to double the amount of European cheese imported into Canada — to around 30,000 tonnes a year — in order to get the Europeans on board.

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Meanwhile, Canada’s dairy farmers are “angered and disappointed” with the Conservative government over a looming free-trade deal with the European Union that could more than double the amount of EU cheese allowed into Canada.

A proposed agreement-in-principle is sitting with the provinces for final approval.

The official Opposition NDP said it is worried the Conservatives may be throwing Canadian dairy farmers “under the bus” on a trade deal both sides have been negotiating since 2009.

Canadian government and EU officials insist negotiations are still ongoing, although Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Conservative caucus Wednesday the government “will soon complete negotiations” on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union.