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allonia has developed a bit of a reputation in international trade circles. Belgium’s largely French-speaking region voted to block the EU-Canada trade deal back in 2016 and only relented when it had secured concessions. Again this week, its government has said it would block the EU-Merocsur deal with South America struck by European Commission negotiators last year. There are fears a similar fate could befall the UK’s Brexit ambition to get a deal done by the end of 2020.