The European Union and Canada have signed a landmark trade pact, ending days of drama after a Belgian region refused to endorse the agreement. But protests against the long-delayed Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement have also continued.

It suffered delays and near derailment and even on the morning when Canada and the European Union were due to formally sign CETA - the EU Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade agreement, another minor setback: the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was running late.

As EU leaders await the Canadian Prime Minister, protestors have gathered ahead of the summit. They say they don't want CETA. They chant that this is what democracy looks like. But has time run out for them to get their voice heard.

Whatever was happening outside, inside as leaders arrived, the mood was buoyant. CETA was finally roaring to the finish line.

"Today we are fixing the definite way, the global standards that the European Union and the European Commission wants to be accepted by others," said Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission President.

And so the moment arrived. The Canadian Prime Minister and the EU's top brass, put their signatures to the trade deal that would remove 99% of trade tariffs between Canada and the EU.

"Small businesses, consumers will start to feel the benefit of this immediately, even before all the 28 different parliaments proceed with their ratification steps," said Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister.
 
"The battle for CETA also showed how important impressions and emotions are in the modern world. It showed that facts and figures won't stand up for themselves alone," said Donald Tusk, European Council President.

CETA's provisional implementation is expected to begin early next year - while its full force awaits final clearance by national and regional parliaments across Europe.

Back outside, 16 protestors were arrested. Is their battle against CETA over Not quite yet.