A controversial investment protection clause which had become a sticking point in a trade deal between Canada and the European Union has been amended, says International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.

"There have been some modifications to the investment chapter to reflect the shared intent of Canada and the EU to strengthen our provisions on the right to regulate...," Freeland said in Ottawa on Monday.

"We strongly believe that we have responded to Canadians, to EU citizens, to businesses with a fair, transparent and impartial system."

In 2013, the previous Conservative government had reached an agreement in principle on a trade deal that is expected to remove 98 per cent of EU tariffs on a wide range of Canadian products.

Freeland announced Monday that modifications were made to a controversial chapter as part of the legal review of the English text of the CETA deal.

The minister said she hopes the deal will be ratified later this year and come into force some time in 2017.

She was joined by Catherine McKenna, minister for the environment and climate change.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Freeland to move forward with the ratification of the trade deal with the EU.