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Belgian internal feud blocks EU-Canada trade deal
French-speaking Walloon region holds out, saying that the main problems are with the EU authorities
Add BT as a preferred sourcePublished Mon, Oct 24, 2016 · 09:50 PM
Brussels
THE European Union's hopes of signing a landmark free trade deal with Canada this week appeared to evaporate on Monday as the Belgian federal government failed to win the consent of French-speaking regional authorities.
European Council President Donald Tusk had given Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel until Monday, three days before the planned signing, to resolve the impasse. But a meeting Mr Michel hosted with leaders of the five sub-federal authorities whose permission he needs to go ahead ended in stalemate.
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