Belgium still holding up EU approval of Canada trade deal
LUXEMBOURG — European Union nations failed to endorse a landmark trade deal with Canada as scheduled on Tuesday, but remain optimistic they can do so by next week, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due to fly over to sign it.
Where the EU foreign trade ministers failed, the EU leaders will now step in to try and clinch a deal when they meet for a two-day summit starting Thursday.
“It is up to the European (summit) to settle these final reservations,” said Slovakia’s foreign trade minister, Peter Ziga.
Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said that divisions within his nation over the deal remained. The trade pact requires backing from all 28 member states, and Belgium can only back it if all of its regions do so.