Farmers' anger: it's official, Mercosur and the European Union announce a free trade agreement

Negotiations on a draft trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, a free trade area grouping several South American countries, have been finalized, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday during a visit to Uruguay, despite opposition from France.

Mercosur and the European Union have concluded “negotiations for a free trade agreement“, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Montevideo on Friday.

Concerns listened to

“We have concluded the negotiations for the EU-Mercosur agreement. This is the beginning of a new story. I am now looking forward to discussing it with the European countries”, wrote Ms von der Leyen on X, during a joint press conference with the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

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The European Commission has listened to “the concerns” of the European agricultural sector and had introduced “guarantees” in the trade agreement between European countries and those of Mercosur, its president Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday in Montevideo.

“This is an agreement that will benefit both” parties and “will bring significant benefits to consumers and businesses” if approved, she said. “We are listening to the concerns of our farmers and we are acting accordingly. This agreement includes strong guarantees to protect our livelihoods,” she added during a joint press conference with the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay to announce the agreement reached after 25 years of discussions.

“Political conclusion of the negotiation”

The announcement by the European Commission of an agreement between the countries of the European Union and those of Mercosur on a trade treaty “is its own”, commented on Friday the resigning Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade of France, Sophie Primas.

“Today is clearly not the end of the story. What is happening in Montevideo is not a signing of the agreement but simply the political conclusion of the negotiation. This only commits the Commission, not the Member States”, the minister said in a statement sent to AFP, adding that “the Commission is taking its responsibilities as a negotiator, but this only commits it”.