24.10.201602:38:00UTC+00EU pressures Belgium to secure support for Canada trade pact

Belgium has until today to obtain the blessing of Wallonia region for a trade accord between Canada and the European Union or a scheduled convention for sealing the deal will be postponed.

A person close to the bloc disclosed European Council President Donald Tusk will meet Belgian leader Charles Michel. Only then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can determine whether to visit Brussels to ink the pact.

If Belgium won't be able to sign CETA, the EU-Canada gathering set Thursday will not push through.

The source said no new date will be given but both parties are not willing to recede on a free trade agreement which they have been working on for the longest time.

Wallonia head Paul Magnette, however, reiterated it will affect farmers and award too much authority to global corporate influences, adding the EU is not aligned with democratic practices.