THURSDAY’S signing of the anti-democratic EU-Canada free trade deal was cancelled yesterday as Belgium’s Wallonia region continued to block it.

“We have been asked to give a clear answer today,” on whether Belgium could become the last of the 28 EU states to sign up to the agreement, said Prime Minister Charles Michel after meeting Wallonia’s Minister-President Paul Magnette. “And the clear answer, at this stage, is no.”

Mr Magnette said he would not yield to artificial deadlines, adding: “Each time they put forward such an ultimatum, it make serene discussion and democratic debate impossible.”

Walloon parliament speaker Andre Antoine said there were too many outstanding problems with the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta).

The Walloon parliament blocked the deal over its investor-state dispute settlement mechanism, which would allow foreign firms to sue governments when national laws can be blamed for a loss of profits, whether real or potential.

“We do not want private arbitration in which multinationals can attack nations, Mr Magnette said.

EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council president Donald Tusk were due to speak to Canadian President Justin Trudeau by phone later yesterday to explain the situation.

Mark Dearn, senior trade campaigner with London-based anti-poverty group War on Want, said: “The blame lies with the European Commission’s high-handed and secretive approach to its trade deals, rather than the wholly valid concerns of Belgium’s regional governments.

“Ceta is the last thing Europe or the rest of the world needs right now.”