Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, shown here earlier this year at the signing conference for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, has walked out of trade talks aimed at salvaging a Canada-EU free trade deal. (New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade via YouTube)

Canada walks out of trade talks with ‘incapable’ EU

Brussels | Reuters — Canada’s trade minister walked out of talks in Belgium on Friday, declaring that the European Union was incapable of sealing a planned transatlantic free trade deal designed to boost growth in both economies. All 28 EU governments support the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), but Belgium cannot give assent without […] Read more



Le Botanique, a Brussels-area greenhouse facility repurposed as a cultural centre and live music venue. (CIA.gov)

Belgian ‘Non’ blocks EU approval of CETA

Luxembourg | Reuters — EU governments failed on Tuesday to approve a free trade agreement with Canada, as continued opposition from French-speaking southern Belgium threatened the entire deal. Almost all 28 EU governments, whose ministers were meeting in Luxembourg, now back the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which would be the bloc’s first trade […] Read more

(EC.europa.eu)

Belgian ‘Non’ clouds EU meeting to approve CETA

Luxembourg | Reuters — European Union trade ministers meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday aiming to approve a free trade agreement with Canada but facing regional opposition in Belgium that threatens to scupper the entire deal. All 28 EU governments now back the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which would be the bloc’s first trade […] Read more


(EC.europa.eu)

CETA hits resistance in Belgian fortress Wallonia

Namur, Belgium | Reuters — The Belgian fortress city of Namur, besieged by European armies down the centuries, issued a declaration of war on the global economic order Friday, with a vote to reject a planned EU-Canada free trade agreement. The parliament of the region of Wallonia voted in its seat at Namur after a […] Read more

Le Botanique, a Brussels-area greenhouse facility repurposed as a cultural centre and live music venue. (CIA.gov)

Belgian regions set to block CETA over farm concerns

Brussels | Reuters –– Southern Belgium is set to block a planned EU-Canada free trade agreement, threatening to undermine the European Union’s entire trade policy and serving as a warning to British hopes of a speedy deal after Britain has left the European Union. EU trade ministers will vote in a week on the Comprehensive […] Read more