"France is pushing to postpone a European Union vote to ratify a trade deal with the Mercosur bloc of four South American countries, citing concerns about its effects on farmers and ongoing protests at home. The move risks derailing an accord that has been 25 years in the making. The EU's trade agreement with Mercosur, which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, was concluded a year ago but still awaits ratification."
"However, the pact has met strong opposition from farmers across Europe, who worry that a flood of cheap agricultural imports produced under the more relaxed environmental and agricultural standards of some South American countries will put them under too much pressure. Securing a resolution to this is viewed by some as a test of Europe's ability to act as a unified bloc, shortly after US President Donald Trump hit out at EU leaders for being weak and warning of civilisational erasure across the bloc."
France is urging the European Union to postpone ratification of the Mercosur trade deal and is threatening to block imports to protect farmers. The Mercosur bloc includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay and the agreement was concluded a year ago but still awaits ratification. The deal aims to cut tariffs and expand market access for EU exporters facing recent US tariffs and rising competition from China. Farmers across Europe oppose the pact over fears of cheap agricultural imports produced under laxer environmental and farming standards. Environmentalists also object to Amazon deforestation linked to increased exports from South America.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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