EU and Mercosur trade bloc announce free trade deal 25 years in the making

In remarks aimed at her “fellow Europeans”, and perhaps those more sceptical like farmers in France and elsewhere, Ms von der Leyen said the deal would have a positive impact on around 60,000 companies that export to the Mercosur region.

The European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc have agreed to terms for a long-anticipated free trade deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo.

The EU-Mercosur deal aims to create one of the largest free trade zones in the world, covering more than 700 million people and nearly 25% of global GDP.