Belgium breaks deadlock over EU-Canada trade pact

Belgium has finally agreed a deal with its regional parliaments to approve a landmark EU-Canada free trade agreement, breaking a deadlock that has blocked the pact for weeks.
Prime Minister Charles Michel said the heads of the regions had drawn up an addendum to the agreement that answered their concerns over the rights of farmers and governments - an addendum that still needs the approval of Canada and other EU states.
Canada called the announcement a "positive development", a cautious welcome echoed by European Council President Donald Tusk, who chairs EU leaders' summits.
But both stopped short of declaring the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a done deal.
"Only once all procedures are finalised for EU signing CETA, will I contact (Canadian) PM @JustinTrudeau," Tusk said in a tweet.
All 28 EU governments back CETA, which supporters say could increase trade by 20 percent, but Belgium had been prevented from giving its consent because of objections led by its French-speaking Wallonia region.
Wallonia, along with the capital Brussels and Belgium's grouping of French speakers, had opposed the deal for weeks, saying it was bad for Europe's farmers and gave too...

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