Canada Hails Belgian Breakthrough On Trade Deal
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published October 27, 2016 | 08:05 PM
OTTAWA, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2016 ) - Canada on Thursday hailed a deal reached by Belgian political leaders to break the logjam over a landmark trade deal between the EU and Canada, but cautioned there is more work ahead.
Resistance from Belgium's French-speaking Wallonia region had threatened to derail the pact between the 28-member bloc and Canada, the world's 10th biggest economy. But Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on Thursday announced an agreement had been reached with Walloon leaders in support of the CETA deal.
"If it materializes, it's excellent news," Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said during a visit to Paris, adding he was "cautiously optimistic." His counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault added, "If it is confirmed, we are very happy about it.
" A spokesman for the Canada's Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, however, commented in an email to AFP, "There is still work to do.
There remain additional steps before signing." "Canada remains ready to sign this important agreement when Europe is ready," Freeland spokesman Alex Lawrence said. The CETA pact would link the EU's single market of 500 million people -- the world's biggest -- with Canada, the world's 10th largest economy.
"I am cautiously optimistic -- once bitten, twice shy," said Dion. "We will show it is possible to trade and have progressive policies for the environment, health and social policies." The leaders of Wallonia, a 3.5 million-strong region south of Brussels, had demanded guarantees that CETA will not harm local farming and other interests.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
Golf: LPGA LA Championship scores
5 minutes ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - collated
35 minutes ago -
PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans scores
35 minutes ago -
Sudanese filmmakers shine light on war's 'silent problems'
35 minutes ago -
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
7 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
7 hours ago
-
Football: Italian Serie A result
7 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga results
7 hours ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
7 hours ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
7 hours ago -
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
8 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
8 hours ago