EditEU-Mercosur trade deal faces fresh hurdles as leaders gather in Brussels
France and Italy swiftly dismissed an 11th-hour compromiseon tighter safeguards for sensitive agricultural imports as insufficient
As EU leaders have convened in Brussels on Thursday for a summit dominated by Ukraine financing and defence, the long-negotiated trade agreement with Mercosur has emerged as a heated side-issue, with farmers protesting outside the summit venue and key member states declaring it “premature” to proceed.
Although not formally on the agenda, the EU-Mercosur accord – concluded in principle a year ago after 25 years of talks – is the subject of intense corridor discussions. EU ambassadors are scheduled to vote on Friday on the political agreement, but opposition from France, Italy, Poland, and Hungary casts serious doubt on whether it will pass.
On Wednesday evening, negotiators from the European Commission, Parliament, and Council reached a provisional compromise on tighter safeguards for sensitive agricultural imports. The deal lowers the trigger threshold for launching investigations into surges of Mercosur beef, poultry, sugar, and ethanol from the Commission’s proposed 10% to 8% above a three-year average – down from Parliament’s demand of 5%, but still a concession to critics.
A joint declaration also commits to enhanced checks, including on-site inspections in Mercosur countries, to ensure compliance with EU standards on pesticides, animal welfare, and food safety. Supporters argue these measures address the core concerns of European farmers, who fear unfair competition from South American producers using practices banned in the EU.
Yet France and Italy swiftly dismissed the compromise as insufficient. French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon warned that “no one would understand” if chemically treated meat and vegetables entered the European market, insisting on stricter “mirror clauses” requiring full reciprocity. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament it would be “premature” to sign before farmers’ concerns are fully resolved, emphasising the need for guarantees that benefit “all sectors.
“Hundreds of farmers, mobilised by groups like Copa-Cogeca, gathered in Brussels on Thursday morning, blocking streets with tractors and chanting against the deal. “We won’t accept competition from products that don’t respect our standards,” read one banner near the European Council building.
Proponents, led by Germany, Spain, and Nordic countries, counter that the agreement is vital for diversifying supply chains amid U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump and reducing dependence on China for critical minerals. The deal would eliminate tariffs on 91% of EU exports to Mercosur—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia—creating the bloc’s largest tariff-cut accord.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reacted angrily to the European hesitations, threatening not to sign during his term if delayed further. “If they say no now, we will be tough with them from now on,” he told ministers, noting Mercosur is advancing talks with Japan, the UAE, India, and Canada.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had hoped to travel to Brazil this week for a ceremonial signing, but those plans appear shelved. Diplomats say the Friday ambassadorial vote could be postponed if opposition hardens.
With the safeguards compromise still requiring formal endorsement and several capitals openly resistant, the EU-Mercosur deal – once hailed as a geopolitical coup – risks slipping into 2026 or beyond. For now, the protests echoing through Brussels serve as a vivid reminder that trade liberalisation remains as politically charged as ever in Europe’s agricultural heartlands.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: File photo. Protesters, activists and members of NGOs take part in a ‘Toxic Trade Tour’ protest against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement during European trade ministers council in Brussels, Belgium, 24 November 2025. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Updated: December 18, 2025 - 07:08
