Last summer, a trade tribunal backed a complaint by Alberta's government that the margarine law amounted to an unfair restraint of trade.

ECONOMIST: The battle to kill off an antiquated protectionist law

Real coach Bernd Schuster claimed Ronaldo was their main summer transfer target, triggering United's initial threat of a complaint, while Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has accused the Spanish club of a "lack of morals" for allegedly unsettling the player.

BBC: Real deny Man Utd Ronaldo claims