The European Union is postponing the signing of a free trade deal with four Mercosur countries until January, an EU official said on Thursday.
The agreement between the EU and Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, which has been in the making for over 25 years, was scheduled to be signed at a summit in Brazil on Saturday.
The controversial free trade deal is intended to boost trade between the economic blocs, but is viewed critically by some major EU countries including France, Poland and Italy.
Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, however, said that her government would be ready to back to deal as soon as the European Commission delivers more reassurances to farmers.
Italy's support is required to reach the necessary majority of at least 15 of the EU's 27 states, representing 65% of the bloc's population, backing the deal and to pave the way for its signing.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
College students are now slightly less likely to experience severe depression, research shows – but the mental health crisis is far from over - 2How will the universe end?
- 3Explainer-What will change with the US reclassification of marijuana?
- 4The Job of a Migration Legal advisor: How They Can Help You
- 5Exclusive-Drugmakers raise US prices on 350 medicines despite pressure from Trump
- Moscow accuses Berlin of stifling the opposition
- Startled Venezuelans express relief but also fear after Maduro arrest
- 2024's Driving Clearing Robots: Master Suggestions and Surveys
- Starfront Observatories: A haven for distant stargazers
- Pfizer says patient dies after receiving hemophilia drug in trial
- New science points to 4 distinct types of autism
- 7 Espresso Machines for Home Baristas
- Farewell, comet 3I/ATLAS! Interstellar visitor heads for the outer solar system after its closest approach to Earth
- When faith comes under fire: How Iran’s repression of religious minorities has increased
