Belgium holds up EU-Canada trade pact

The Belgian government has announced that due to regional divisions, it cannot yet give the necessary backing to the European Union's free trade deal with Canada, making it unlikely that the bloc can sign deal on time.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Monday that EU leaders and Canada had asked for a clear commitment, "and the clear answer, at this stage, is no."

Michel said the French-speaking region of Wallonia and other regional administrations refused to give the federal government the go-ahead.

"The federal government, the German community and Flanders said 'yes.' Wallonia, the Brussels city government and the French community said 'no','" he added.

A deadline has been set late on Monday for the Belgian government to agree on a deal.

Belgium's failure to reach a favourable decision is likely to force the European Union to call off a planned signing summit on Thursday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The deal needs unanimity among the 28 EU nations and Belgium is the only approval lacking since it needs the backing of all its regions.
 [aljazeera.com]
24/10/16
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• MEPs split over EU free trade deal with Canada (EP)