page_title: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
section_title: Signature and ratification
hierarchical_section_title: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement / Signature and ratification
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Bannière contre le CETA sur le mur du Parlement wallon à Namur, Belgique. "Merci#Stop CETA. Tenez bon" English: Banner againt the CETA on the Walloon Parliament wall in Namur, Belgium. "Thank you#Stop CETA. Hold on" Walon: Banire di sotnaedje ås rclameus disconte on mwais acoird CETA, divant l' Pårlumint walon, li djoû di dvant l' fén des martchandaedjes.
context_page_description: The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is a free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. It has been provisionally applied, thus removing 98% of the preexisting tariffs between the two parts.
  The negotiations were concluded in August 2014. All 28 European Union member states approved the final text of CETA for signature, with Belgium being the final country to give its approval. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, travelled to Brussels on 30 October 2016 to sign on behalf of Canada. The European Parliament approved the deal on 15 February 2017. The agreement is subject to ratification by the EU and national legislatures. It could only enter into force if no adverse opinion on the dispute resolution mechanism was given by the European Court of Justice following a request for an opinion by Belgium. The European Court of Justice has stated in its opinion that the dispute resolution mechanism complies with EU law. Until its formal entry into force, substantial parts are provisionally applied from 21 September 2017.
context_section_description: It was initially unclear whether or not the EU member states had to ratify the agreement, as the European Commission considered the treaty to be solely in the competence of the EU. However, in July 2016 it was decided that CETA be qualified as a "mixed agreement" and thus be ratified through national procedures as well.
  Shortly before the scheduled signature of CETA on 27 October 2016, Belgium announced it was unable to sign the treaty, as assent is required by all regional governments. The federal government and Flanders, which are governed by the centre-right Michel and Bourgeois governments respectively, are in favour, whereas the French Community, Wallonia and Brussels, which are led by centre-left parties that are in opposition at federal level, rejected signature in its current form. On 27 April 2016, the Walloon Parliament had already adopted a resolution in opposition to CETA. On 13 October 2016, David Lametti defended CETA before a Walloon Parliament committee. However, the next day the Walloon Parliament affirmed its opposition. Walloon Minister-President Paul Magnette led the intra-Belgian opposition shortly before the planned signature.
  The intra-Belgian disagreement was solved in the final days of October, paving the way for CETA's signature. On 28 October, the Belgian regional parliaments allowed Full Powers to be given to the federal government, and the following day Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders gave his signature on behalf of Belgium. The next day, on Sunday 30 October 2016, the treaty was signed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (as Slovakia held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2016).
  Following the signature, the consent by the European Parliament and the ratification by Canada, CETA applies provisionally since 21 September 2017, awaiting its ratification by the European Union member states, the European Union and Canada. The procedure is completed when the instrument of ratification is deposited and in many countries requires parliamentary approval.
caption: Banner opposing CETA at the Walloon Parliament in Namur on 19 October 2016.
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