The EU is ‘impossible’: Canada walks out of trade talks

Minister furious after intransigence of tiny Belgian region takes deal close to collapse

THE EU is “impossible” to do deals with, the Canadian government said last night, as a major trade agreement appeared to be on the brink of collapse. In a sign of how difficult Britain’s Brexit negotiations will be, the Canadians walked out of talks after a large-scale deal was put on hold on the say-so of a tiny region in Belgium.

Wallonia, with a population of only 3.5 million, is blocking the Canada-EU agreement, which was due to be signed next week.

Under Belgian law, major international transactions need to be signed off by regional parliaments.

Wallonian farmers are opposed to the deal because they fear the country will be flooded with cheap agricultural imports.

The impasse raises the prospect of a similar obstacle to whatever deal Britain seeks to secure in Brexit talks.

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s international trade minister, said: “It’s become evident for me… that the European Union isn’t capable now to have an international treaty even with a country that has very European values like Canada. And even with a country so nice, with a lot of patience like Canada.”

She added: “I’ve worked very, very hard, but I think it’s impossible. We have decided to return home.”

Speaking in Brussels, Theresa May made clear that she believes the Canada-EU trade deal is “very important”.

The Prime Minister also hit out at EU leaders for their lack of “maturity” after they issued Britain with a series of threats over Brexit.

She made clear that her Government will begin trade negotiations with foreign countries despite EU demands that these occur only after Brexit.

European leaders including François Hollande of France and Martin Schulz, the president of the EU parliament, used the summit to attack Mrs May and warn her that they intend to make Britain’s negotiations “hard”.

However, Mrs May brushed aside their threats and called on them to have “mature” discussions with Britain.

She said: “Here at the summit I have been clear that my aim is to cement Britain as a close partner of the EU once we have left. Yes, the United Kingdom will be a fully independent sovereign country, free to make our own deci- sions on a whole host of different issues such as how we choose to control immigration. But we still want to trade freely in goods and services with Europe.

“I want a mature, co-operative relationship with our European partners. I recognise the scale of the challenge ahead. I am sure there will be difficult moments. It will require some give and take. But I firmly believe that if we approach this in a constructive spirit – as I am – then we can deliver a smooth departure and deliver a powerful new

relationship that works both for the UK and for the countries of the EU, looking for opportunities not problems. That is in Britain’s interests and it is in the interests of all of our European partners, too.”

The Prime Minister made clear that she will ignore EU leaders by attempting to strike trade deals around the world before the country formally leaves the EU.

Brussels leaders have demanded that Britain does not try to do any deals before Brexit, which is expected in 2019.

‘I want a mature, co-operative relationship with our European partners’