She was speaking after meeting members of Parliament's international trade committee and its President Martin Schulz in Brussels.
The minister was in town to discuss the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) which was finalised in February.
Member states and MEPs still have to give their approval to the agreement. Some, such as UK Socialist deputy Jude Kirton-Darling, are thought to have reservations around issues of rising inequality, public services and regulation.
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The European Commission claims that CETA is aimed at removing customs duties, ending limitations in access to public contracts, broadening services market and helping prevent illegal copying of EU innovations and traditional products
But some member states, including Romania, which is angry at Canada's refusal to lift visa requirements for its citizens, and Belgium, have raised objections and could block ratification.
A Romanian MEP raised that possibility in January in an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Freeland.
Socialist deputy Sorin Moisa wrote that removing visa requirements for Romanians and Bulgarians "would not bring any risks for Canada, would remove some of the real political risks to CETA's adoption, and would spare both the EU and Canada an embarrassing legal and political row."
The government of the French-speaking Belgian region of Wallonia has also refused to ratify the agreement already approved by the Belgian cabinet.
On Thursday, Freeland told a news conference that she was aware of such issues, saying she understood those who had "legitimate concerns" which, she said, were partly addressed in the investment chapter of the agreement.
The minister, part of a new government which took office last October, said she knew and understood that issues such as the right to regulate and protection of public services were important to many in Europe.
"But," she added, "I have to stress that this deal is particularly important at a time when some people seem intent on tearing the world part. We have even had some talking about building walls.
"What this deal is designed to do is the opposite - encourage like-minded countries and work together."
"There will always be those who do not want trade deals, who want to call a halt to globalisation and go into reverse gear. That, though, would be both economically and politically very damaging and that is why this agreement is a tremendous step forward."
She was confident the Canadian Parliament will "strongly" back the deal and hopes the European Parliament does the same, adding, "My job, though, is not to predict what the European Parliament will do.
"Even so, I had very good and productive conversations with members of the trade committee and Martin Schulz on Wednesday and it is now up to the Parliament to decide what it is going to do."
If ratified, the deal, she said, will boost trade between the two sides by 23 per cent, a "very meaningful increase."
Freeland, a former journalist, said, "What I told the MEPs is that this is a gold plated, 21st century agreement and a driver for real economic growth. At a time of stagnant growth it is important we use every possible means to leverage to get trade going."