Spotlight: EU, Canada trade deal salvaged after Belgian drama

A landmark trade deal between the European Union (EU) and Canada was drawn back from the brink after weeks-long Belgian drama concluded on Friday, leaving doubts about the bloc's capability to steer trade deals.

The parliament of Belgium's French-speaking region of Wallonia voted in favor of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, on Friday, clearing the way for signing of the deal.

Wallonia's lawmakers, who previously concerned that the deal would jeopardize European farmers' interest and grant too much power to multinationals, voted in favor of the deal after Belgian politicians agreed to add an addendum to the deal on Thursday.

Under the addendum, the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) of the deal, which would allow enterprises to sue European governments, would be determined by the European Court of Justice whether compatible with European treaties.

Meanwhile, CETA would be assessed regularly in regard of its social, economic and environmental impacts.

Wallonia, with a population of 3.5 million, has been the biggest obstacle of CETA signing as Belgium's backing asked for unanimity from all regional parliaments under the country's complex federal legislative rule.

Meanwhile, the EU, a bloc with 500 million people, can only sign the deal with consent of all member states.

Wallonia's former resistance led to the cancellation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's scheduled visit to Brussels on Thursday, during which the EU and Canada were expected to sign the deal after seven years of negotiations.

The EU and Canada now were on track of setting a new date for the signing and more work is needed as all EU member states have to approve Belgium's addendum and any other changes to the deal.

The Belgian drama was viewed as another scenery generated by anti-globalization after Britain's shock referendum vote to leave the EU in June, adding uncertainty to the bloc's standing on its unity and solidarity as well as the capability to steer international negotiations.

The EU was further embarrassed and questioned, especially after it had hoped the CETA with such a like-minded country as Canada would lay the ground for the bloc's other trades deals with global powers including the United States and Japan.

Only cautious optimism was expressed from both Brussels and Toronto after the Belgian drama. European Council President Donald Tusk said he would only contact the Canadian prime minister after all procedures were finalized.

"Once bitten, twice shy," Trudeau was reported to comment on Thursday. Endit