EU Moves Ahead with Controversial Mercosur Trade Deal Despite Parliament Objections

The European Commission will begin provisional implementation of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday, despite ongoing opposition and a judicial review initiated by the European Parliament. The agreement, which aims to create a free-trade area covering more than 720 million people across the EU and the South American Mercosur bloc - including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay - has been in negotiation for 25 years and remains highly controversial. Critics, led by France and Poland, argue the deal risks exposing European farmers to unfair competition, while Germany and other proponents highlight the potential to open Latin American markets to European exporters. ...