Belgium halts EU-Canada trade deal

BRUSSELS — The Belgian government said Monday that it cannot yet give the necessary backing to the European Union’s free trade deal with Canada, making it unlikely that the bloc can sign the deal officially on Thursday as planned.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Monday that EU leaders and Canada had asked for a clear commitment on Monday, “and the clear answer, at this stage, is no.”

It left it open to what extent the EU and Belgium could continue negotiating over the next days and weeks with the southern Belgian region of Wallonia, which needs to approve the deal before it can become official. The deal needs unanimity among the 28 EU nations, and Belgium is the only approval lacking since it needs the backing of all its regions.

The EU’s executive called for patience in an attempt to save a free trade deal and had already dismissed a Monday night deadline as counterproductive.

On Monday, Wallonia President Paul Magnette insisted he would agree to nothing under the threat of an ultimatum.

“Each time they put forward such an ultimatum, it makes a serene discussion and a democratic debate impossible,” Magnette said.