Canada sends envoy in bid to save EU free trade deal

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Ont.

Canada sent a special envoy to Belgium on Friday to try to salvage a free trade deal between Canada and the EU, Canadian media reported.

Just one day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Europe that it risked becoming irrelevant if the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada is not signed, a Belgium region rejected the deal.

The agreement – slated to be signed in a few days – requires unanimous approval by EU countries. Under Belgium’s constitutional rules, any of the three regions in the country can torpedo a deal for the entire country, the Canadian Press (CP) wire service reported Friday.

The Wallonia region rejected CETA, fearing cheaper Canadian imports would hurt Belgium’s economy. Environmentalists and unions also warned that the deal would negatively effect Belgium.

Paul Magnette, leader of the Wallonia region where the deal was turned down in the legislature, said the region would “not give full powers to the federal government” so that it could proceed with the agreement.

He said “guarantees are insufficient” to protect the farming and industrial sectors.

“I will not give the full powers to the federal government and Belgium will not sign CETA on the 18th of October,” Magnette said, as reported by the CP. The vote against the deal was 46-14 with one abstention.

After being apprised of the veto, Canada dispatched Pierre Pettegrew, a former federal trade and foreign minister, to meet with leaders of the Wallonia region in Paris to try to salvage the deal, CTV television news reported.

The liberal Reformist Movement Party, MR, represented in the Belgium government, lashed out at Wallonia leaders who voted against the agreement.

“You are taking Belgium and Europe hostage,” Virginie Defrang-Firket said in the national legislature, as reported by the CP.

Meanwhile, Canada is continuing to push the deal with other EU countries.

The EU contends that the CETA deal would improve trade between itself and Canada, foster job growth and guarantee the standards of EU countries are met in sectors from food to labor rights, the CP reported.