Canada will take international legal action in response to the European parliament’s ban on seal products, but will not let the dispute impede progress on an ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union, Stephen Harper, Canada’s prime minister, said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after a EU-Canada summit in Prague, Mr Harper said: “We are obviously not pleased by the recent action. Canada will defend its full rights in front of international tribunals, and Canada will defend its sealing industry. We’re going to help the communities affected.”