Belgium will not sign EU-Canada trade pact after regional objections
Brussels — Belgium has conceded it cannot sign off on a landmark EU free trade deal with Canada because of continued objections from Wallonia and other regional leaders, who rejected a late Monday deadline. Without Belgium’s signature, the other 27 EU nations cannot go ahead, leaving the bloc stuck in another bitter stand-off after Brexit, and with its much-vaunted unity shattered amid growing popular distrust of international trade deals. "We are not in a position to sign Ceta (the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement)," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said, after brief talks with the country’s regional leaders in Brussels broke up without an accord. The pact, known as CETA, would link the EU market of 500-million people, the world’s biggest, with the tenth-largest global economy. "The federal government, the German community and Flanders said ‘yes.’ Wallonia, the Brussels city government and the French community said ‘no’," Michel said. Leaders of Wallonia, a 3.5-milli...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.