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Canada Views EU's Inability to Sign CETA Trade Deal as Unfortunate Signal

© AP Photo / Francois MoriActivists demonstrate in front of French Agriculture ministry to protest against the EU trade deal with Canada, known as CETA, in Paris, Tuesday Oct. 11, 2016
Activists demonstrate in front of French Agriculture ministry to protest against the EU trade deal with Canada, known as CETA, in Paris, Tuesday Oct. 11, 2016 - Sputnik International
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According to a spokesperson for the Canadian Foreign Ministry, Europe's inability to sign the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada will be an unfortunate signal, but Ottawa is determined to work hard to conclude this deal.

Thousands of people demonstrate against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in the centre of Brussels, Belgium September 20, 2016. - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) Europe's inability to sign the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada will be an unfortunate signal, but Ottawa is determined to work hard to conclude this deal, a spokesperson for the Canadian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.

"As Canada has said, this is a progressive deal. If ‎Europe is unable to sign a progressive trade deal with a country like Canada, this will send a clear and unfortunate signal," the spokesperson said.

On Friday, the parliament of the French-speaking Belgian region of Wallonia blocked the ratification of the CETA free-trade agreement, with the region's Prime Minister Paul Magnette stating that he would not give the federal government powers to sign the deal.

The spokesperson added that despite the setback in signing the deal, CETA remained a top priority for Canada.

"We are still working with our partners in Europe to conclude this agreement so [that] CETA can be signed this fall and implemented next year," the spokesperson stressed.

Canada's government, which believes that CETA is an excellent agreement for Canada and the European Union, bringing positive results and opportunities to the European and Canadian citizens, spared much diplomatic efforts on convincing Belgium's Wallonia politicians to accept the deal.

Last weekend, Canada's Trade Parliamentary Secretary David Lametti met in Canada with a delegation of legislators from the Wallonia parliament. Lametti also visited Wallonia to address its parliamentary committee on European affairs and to meet with regional leaders.

CETA aims to establish a free trade zone between Canada and the European Union, though it has been criticized in Europe. Opponents fear it would undermine standards and regulations on environmental protection, health, safety and workers' rights.

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