Canada-EU trade talks collapse in Wallonia as Freeland walks out

October 21, 2016

Last-ditch efforts to salvage Canada's trade deal with the European Union appear to have collapsed Friday, as International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland walked out of talks with the regional government of Wallonia that's been blocking the deal that was supposed to be signed next week.

Freeland said that the failure to come to a consensus and proceed with signing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) at the planned Canada-EU Summit next Thursday was a "missed opportunity."

Earlier, Paul Magnette, the president of the Belgian region of Wallonia, briefed his regional parliament, saying that although talks were productive, difficulties remain and he's not prepared to reverse the decision to reject CETA.

This has been excerpted from the 21 October 2016 edition of CBC News and is available in its entirety at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-eu-ceta-brussels-friday-1.3815332


Topic(s): 
Rules of Origin & Trade Agreements / Trade Agreements
Information Source: 
Canadian News Channel
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