The European Union and four members of the South American trade bloc Mercosur - finalized a free trade agreement. Read more.

The European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay finalised a free trade agreement on Friday, although it faces a tough battle to secure approval by the 27 EU member states.

“The EU-Mercosur agreement isn’t just a trade deal, it’s a trade-off,” said Birthe Steenberg, secretary general of AVEC. ”By favouring short-term export gains, the EU puts our strategic autonomy in agriculture on the line, undermines EU farmers and, ultimately, jeopardises its long-term sovereignty.”

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's goal remains to find an amicable solution in negotiations on a trade deal with South America's Mercosur bloc and it is in talks with all partners, including France, which opposed the agreement, said a government spokesperson in Berlin.

European Union and Mercosur trade bloc announce free trade deal that’s 25 years in the making. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

The European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc are expected to announce this week that they have finalized a free trade agreement that took over two decades to negotiate.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the conclusion of the free trade agreement negotiations between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc. Poland, France, and Italy have expressed opposition to the agreement,

"Today marks a truly historic milestone," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenon Friday in Montevideo, when the EU and the Mercosur trade bloc finalized their deal. Connecting Europe with South America.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the conclusion of the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc. Poland, France, and Italy have expressed opposition to the agreement,