The affirmation of federal governments in international trade negotiations: The case of the agreement between Canada and the European Union

International trade negotiations are dealing with increasingly sensitive issues for the federal governments. In this context, several federal governments are becoming aware that constitutional competence and their capacities to formulate and implement public policies are being discussed in the framework of trade negotiations. In response, several federal governments wish to be included in the multi-level dynamics of trade negotiations. However, the capacity of the federal governments to influence the outcome is asymmetrical and depends largely on their constitutional status. This article compares the role of Quebec with that of the Walloon region in trade negotiations between Canada and the European Union. While the Walloon region was able to impose the inclusion of an interpretative legal instrument to clarify certain parts of the treaty by threatening to veto the Belgian signature, Quebec, like the other Canadian provinces, influenced the negotiations from within.