Bloomberg reports German Protesters Gather to Oppose Transatlantic Trade Deals

 Protesters gathered in seven German cities on Saturday to oppose transatlantic trade agreements between the European Union and the U.S. and Canada.

More than 320,000 people turned out, the organizers said in an e-mailed statement. In Munich, thousands met on the central Odeonsplatz square and adjoining Ludwigsstrasse in heavy rain as the annual Oktoberfest opened just a few miles away.

Protesters argue that the trade agreements would favor industrialized agricultural processes over craft-based food production that's not genetically engineered. They say the deals would cost thousands of jobs and lead to lower standards in employment and food safety.