Freeland departs Belgium after one more Canada-EU free trade deal meeting
OTTAWA — International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland was returning to Canada Saturday but not before she left her European counterparts with one more warning to do what it takes to save the Canada-EU free trade deal.
“We have finished negotiating a very good agreement, and Canada is ready to sign this agreement,” Freeland told reporters Saturday morning in Brussels standing next to European Parliament President Martin Schulz.
“Now the ball is in Europe’s court, and it’s time for Europe to finish doing its job.”
The Belgian region of Wallonia affirmed Saturday that it still stands in the way of the accord between Canada and the 28-nation European Union, but its president, Paul Magnette, and Schulz were both cautiously optimistic the standoff could be resolved within days.