Imagine
the tons of blackmail exercised on Wallonian officials by the
neoliberal lobbyists
The Belgian
government has reached a deal with the Wallonia region on the free
trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, according to
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.
Michel said
"an agreement" was found after a last minute round of
negotiations with Belgium's French-speaking community who have been
holding up the deal. Brussels has not released the details of the
compromise.
The signing
of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was
cancelled on Thursday after the deal was blocked by Wallonia's
regional parliament.
Canadian
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was forced to cancel Thursday’s trip
to Brussels as the negotiations had stalled.
Wallonia
premier Paul Magnette said the region was not opposed to an EU trade
deal with Canada. However, he insisted the secret arbitration scheme
allowing corporations to sue governments had to be dropped from the
agreement. Regional leaders in Wallonia voted 46 to 16 against CETA
over fears of job losses due to cheaper farming and industrial
imports.
CETA
promises to eliminate tariffs on 98 percent of goods immediately
after ratification and also encompasses regulatory cooperation,
shipping, sustainable development and access to government tenders.
CETA’s
supporters say the deal would yield billions in added trade through
customs and tariff cuts and other measures facilitating business
ties.
Opponents
claim the trade deal will only benefit the wealthy and large
corporations.
For CETA to
be ratified, all 28 European Union countries have to agree the
treaty. Until now, Belgium has been the main obstacle to the free
trade deal.
"All
parliaments are now able to approve by tomorrow at midnight.
Important step for EU and Canada,” Michel tweeted.
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