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| Ceta talks: EU vows to unblock Canada trade deal | Ceta talks: EU vows to unblock Canada trade deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The European Parliament president says he is optimistic that a free-trade deal between the EU and Canada can be signed soon despite last-minute obstacles. | The European Parliament president says he is optimistic that a free-trade deal between the EU and Canada can be signed soon despite last-minute obstacles. |
| Objections by a Belgian region, which opposes the deal, "are for us Europeans to solve", Martin Schulz said. | Objections by a Belgian region, which opposes the deal, "are for us Europeans to solve", Martin Schulz said. |
| He was speaking after meetings in Brussels with Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and the head of Belgium's Wallonia region. | He was speaking after meetings in Brussels with Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and the head of Belgium's Wallonia region. |
| Ms Freeland said: "It's time for Europe to finish doing its job." | Ms Freeland said: "It's time for Europe to finish doing its job." |
| After seven years of negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta), talks broke down on Friday. | After seven years of negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta), talks broke down on Friday. |
| Ceta dispute bedevils EU summit | |
| This followed a rejection of the deal by Wallonia. Exercising its right under the Belgian federal constitution, it called for clarity on safeguards to protect labour, environmental and consumer standards. | This followed a rejection of the deal by Wallonia. Exercising its right under the Belgian federal constitution, it called for clarity on safeguards to protect labour, environmental and consumer standards. |
| The deadlock has called into question the EU's ability to make trade deals. All 28 EU member states support the agreement, which was to be signed next week. | |
| On Saturday Mr Schultz held meetings with Paul Magnette, the head of the Walloon government, and Mrs Freeland. | On Saturday Mr Schultz held meetings with Paul Magnette, the head of the Walloon government, and Mrs Freeland. |
| Afterwards he told reporters that the emergency talks have given him "much reason for optimism about the positive conclusion of Ceta as soon as possible." | Afterwards he told reporters that the emergency talks have given him "much reason for optimism about the positive conclusion of Ceta as soon as possible." |
| He added: "I am convinced that, by fully addressing the last remaining concerns, we can turn the apparent European division on Ceta (...) into a victory for every participant." | He added: "I am convinced that, by fully addressing the last remaining concerns, we can turn the apparent European division on Ceta (...) into a victory for every participant." |
| "The ball is in Europe's court," Ms Freeland said. "We hope that it is possible to find a solution." | "The ball is in Europe's court," Ms Freeland said. "We hope that it is possible to find a solution." |
| What is Ceta? | What is Ceta? |
| Canada and the EU would eliminate 98% of tariffs under Ceta, which was negotiated over five years between 2009 and 2014. | Canada and the EU would eliminate 98% of tariffs under Ceta, which was negotiated over five years between 2009 and 2014. |
| Supporters say this would increase trade between them by 20%. | Supporters say this would increase trade between them by 20%. |
| Critics argue that the deal lowers product standards and protects big business, allowing corporations to sue governments. | Critics argue that the deal lowers product standards and protects big business, allowing corporations to sue governments. |
| European Parliament briefing on Ceta | European Parliament briefing on Ceta |
| Why does success hinge on one small region? | Why does success hinge on one small region? |
| Wallonia is a region of just 3.6 million people. The EU as a whole has a population of 508 million while there are 36.3 million Canadians. | Wallonia is a region of just 3.6 million people. The EU as a whole has a population of 508 million while there are 36.3 million Canadians. |
| Belgium's constitution stipulates that each of its regional governments must back the deal before the federal government can sign it. | Belgium's constitution stipulates that each of its regional governments must back the deal before the federal government can sign it. |
| Wallonia has remained opposed to Ceta, seeing it as a threat to farmers and welfare standards. | Wallonia has remained opposed to Ceta, seeing it as a threat to farmers and welfare standards. |
| The French-speaking region has a strong socialist tradition. Its fears echo those of anti-globalisation activists, who say Ceta and deals like it give too much power to multinationals. | The French-speaking region has a strong socialist tradition. Its fears echo those of anti-globalisation activists, who say Ceta and deals like it give too much power to multinationals. |
| There have also been big demonstrations in several EU countries against Ceta and the TTIP trade talks between the EU and the US. | There have also been big demonstrations in several EU countries against Ceta and the TTIP trade talks between the EU and the US. |
| How big a deal is this for Canada? | How big a deal is this for Canada? |
| The deal was completed under the former Conservative government but is a major priority for the Liberals, who are under pressure to boost the country's economy, the BBC's Canada editor Jessica Murphy writes. | The deal was completed under the former Conservative government but is a major priority for the Liberals, who are under pressure to boost the country's economy, the BBC's Canada editor Jessica Murphy writes. |
| They dispatched special envoy Pierre Pettigrew, a former cabinet minister with a wealth of experience in international trade, to help save the flagging agreement. | They dispatched special envoy Pierre Pettigrew, a former cabinet minister with a wealth of experience in international trade, to help save the flagging agreement. |
| Federal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has repeatedly met European leaders in recent months to shepherd it through. | Federal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has repeatedly met European leaders in recent months to shepherd it through. |
| On Friday, she said agreement now seemed "impossible". | On Friday, she said agreement now seemed "impossible". |
| How does the EU look now? | How does the EU look now? |
| The failure to clinch the EU-Canada Ceta deal is an embarrassment, writes Laurence Peter, the BBC website's EU analyst. | The failure to clinch the EU-Canada Ceta deal is an embarrassment, writes Laurence Peter, the BBC website's EU analyst. |
| The European Commission insists Ceta is not over but it also refuses to unpick the massive text. | The European Commission insists Ceta is not over but it also refuses to unpick the massive text. |
| Chances of any EU free trade deals with the US, China or India now look remote. Anti-globalisation groups, anxious to protect Europe's welfare and environmental standards, may feel they are winning the argument. | Chances of any EU free trade deals with the US, China or India now look remote. Anti-globalisation groups, anxious to protect Europe's welfare and environmental standards, may feel they are winning the argument. |
| For now, any Ceta boost for small businesses and jobs has been postponed. | For now, any Ceta boost for small businesses and jobs has been postponed. |
| Are there lessons for Brexit? | Are there lessons for Brexit? |
| A very obvious one is that it is going to be difficult for the EU to implement trade and investment deals, perhaps with anyone, writes Andrew Walker, the BBC's economics correspondent. | A very obvious one is that it is going to be difficult for the EU to implement trade and investment deals, perhaps with anyone, writes Andrew Walker, the BBC's economics correspondent. |
| For the UK post-Brexit, it suggests two contrasting implications: | For the UK post-Brexit, it suggests two contrasting implications: |
| Would Ceta be a good model for the UK? | Would Ceta be a good model for the UK? |