EU trade negotiators are rushing to assuage the Walloon government’s concerns before the Monday deadline set by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to decide whether to fly to Brussels, according sources familiar with the matter. French-speaking Wallonia has steadfastly opposed it, saying the deal is bad for Europe’s farmers and gives too much power to global corporate interests. In a last ditch bid to secure Walloon backing, EU trade officials are offering to tweak a political declaration appended to the treaty, an EU source said. “This is first of all an inner-Belgian matter,” an EU source said. “If Michel says he is not in a position to confirm that Belgium will be able to sign on Thursday, then we won’t have the summit,” a source said.

Source: National Post October 23, 2016 14:37 UTC