 "EU, Canada sign trade deal")
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Union leaders on Sunday finally signed a landmark trade deal seven years in the making, after it was nearly torpedoed by a small region of Belgium.
The ceremony in Brussels had been pushed back from Thursday after French-speaking Wallonia, with just 3.6 million people, initially vetoed an agreement affecting more than 500 million Europeans and 35 million Canadians.
Cheers and applause erupted as Trudeau signed the pact alongside EU President Donald Tusk, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.
Protesters earlier burst through riot police lines and hurled red paint at the European Union’s headquarters, while activists chanted slogans against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
“What patience,” said Juncker, adding: “This is an important day for the EU and for Canada too because we are setting an international standard that will have to be followed by others.”
CETA removes 99 per cent of customs duties between the two sides, linking the single EU market with the world’s 10th largest economy.
The Belgian drama had sparked dire warnings for the EU’s credibility as a trading partner as it wrestles with Britain’s shock vote to leave, a huge migration crisis and the threat of a resurgent Russia.
The ceremony in Brussels had been pushed back from Thursday after French-speaking Wallonia, with just 3.6 million people, initially vetoed an agreement affecting more than 500 million Europeans and 35 million Canadians.
Cheers and applause erupted as Trudeau signed the pact alongside EU President Donald Tusk, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.
Protesters earlier burst through riot police lines and hurled red paint at the European Union’s headquarters, while activists chanted slogans against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
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“What patience,” said Juncker, adding: “This is an important day for the EU and for Canada too because we are setting an international standard that will have to be followed by others.”
CETA removes 99 per cent of customs duties between the two sides, linking the single EU market with the world’s 10th largest economy.
The Belgian drama had sparked dire warnings for the EU’s credibility as a trading partner as it wrestles with Britain’s shock vote to leave, a huge migration crisis and the threat of a resurgent Russia.