Tech & Rights

Belgian Region of Wallonia Blocks Key EU Trade Deal

Belgium cannot sign a key EU trade deal with Canada, Prime Minister Charles Michel says, because of objections led by staunchly socialist Wallonia. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is the EU's...

by Nederlands Juristen Comité voor de Mensenrechten
(Image: campact)

Belgium cannot sign a key EU trade deal with Canada, Prime Minister Charles Michel says, because of objections led by staunchly socialist Wallonia. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is the EU's most ambitious free trade deal to date, but Belgium needs its regions' approval to sign it. Wallonia, a region of 3.6 million people, wants stronger safeguards on labor, environmental and consumer standards. The rules for trade arbitration are one of the thorniest issues in the deal. There have been demonstrations in several EU countries against CETA.

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