Europe

EU chief predicts dire future if EU-Canada trade deal fails

Associated Press
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European Council President Donald Tusk arrives for the EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. British Prime Minister Theresa May will hold her first talks with European Union leaders and tell them that the U.K.'s decision to leave the bloc is irreversible. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) (The Associated Press)

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel arrives for the EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. British Prime Minister Theresa May will hold her first talks with European Union leaders and tell them that the U.K.'s decision to leave the bloc is irreversible. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) (The Associated Press)

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel arrives for the EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. British Prime Minister Theresa May will hold her first talks with European Union leaders and tell them that the U.K.'s decision to leave the bloc is irreversible. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) (The Associated Press)

The European Union president is warning that if a free trade deal with Canada fails due to the refusal of a small Belgian region to sign on over the coming days, it could mean the end of such agreements with any other country.

EU President Donald Tusk and the 28 EU leaders are pushing hard to have francophone Wallonia back the so-called CETA deal, which needs unanimity among all EU members. Belgium can only back it if it has unanimity among all of its regions.

Tusk said that "if we are not able to convince people that trade agreements are in their interest .... I am afraid, that CETA could be our last free trade agreement."