Belgium ends deadlock over EU-Canada CETA trade deal

The Parliament of Belgium's Wallonia region has voted in favour of a planned EU-Canada trade deal, ending a political deadlock.

Lawmakers of the French-speaking Wallonia region, which had led Belgian opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), voted 58 for to five against.

All 28 EU governments now back the deal, which supporters say could increase trade by 20%, but Belgium's central government had been prevented from giving its consent because it needed approval from sub-federal authorities.

The CETA would set would set up a free trade zone between the EU and Canada - the first agreement of its kind set up with a major economy outside the EU.

The regional government of the French-speaking region of Wallonia had previously refused to give the go-ahead over fears that it will harm local workers and give power to multinational organisations at the expense of individual states.

On Thursday Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel said that the heads of Belgium's regions had produced a deal to allay concerns, providing a clause to safeguard farmers.

This deal will still have to be put to the other 27 EU members for approval before CETA itself is signed.

Wallonia's Socialist premier Paul Magnette, who had become a hero to protesters across Europe, said Belgian negotiations had led to a deal he could live with.

"The amended and corrected CETA is more just than the old CETA. It offers more guarantees and it is what I will defend," Mr Magnette told a session, adding: "With this saga, which I must say made some noise, everybodyin Europe knows the Walloon parliament exists."

There had been worries that the breakdown in talks would mirror those which would likely take place between the UK and the EU bloc after Brexit.