EU seals long-awaited Mercosur free-trade pact after 25-year push
The EU and Mercosur reached a free-trade agreement after 25 years of talks, pending European Parliament approval, in what’s billed as the bloc’s largest FTA. It aims to boost trade and climate goals with safeguards for farmers, anti-deforestation commitments, and a phased tariff liberalization over 15 years, saving EU exporters about €4 billion a year in duties. While praised as a win for multilateralism, critics warn cheaper imports could hit European farmers; ratification and environmental enforcement will be key hurdles.