Belgian Wallonia region leader says no Canada trade deal ‘today’

Wallonia regional leader Paul Magnette said he could not agree on Monday to the Belgian government signing a landmark EU-Canada free trade accord under deadline pressure from the bloc.

“Prime Minister (Charles Michel) told us that the head of the European Council Donald Tusk wanted an answer from us today, yes or no,” Magnette said as he left brief talks in Brussels with the premier and leaders of Belgium’s other regions.

“It is evident that in the current circumstances, we cannot give a ‘yes’ today,” he added.