The World - News from July 21, 1988

Canada’s opposition Liberal Party vowed to block ratification of a free-trade pact with the United States until Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney calls a general election. But Mulroney, in a heated House of Commons exchange, rejected demands for an immediate vote to settle the free-trade issue. Liberal leader John Turner said Canadians have a right to vote on the wisdom of linking their economy more closely with the United States. The pact, signed Jan. 2 by Mulroney and President Reagan, would eliminate all tariffs in the $150-billion-a-year trading partnership.