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
New portrait of the oldest-known supernova | Space photo of the day for March 27, 2026 - 2Dirty soda started as a Mormon alternative to booze. Now it's everywhere.
- 3Czech Republic's new premier: No money for Ukraine
- 4Astronomers may have spotted the 1st known 'superkilonova' double star explosion
- 5Flu is rising rapidly, driven by a new variant. Here's what to know
- Carnival fever hits Lagos as locals celebrate Afro-Brazilian heritage
- The most effective method to Succeed in Your Profession with a Web based Advertising Degree
- Sun storms are powered by a magnetic engine 16 Earths deep, study finds
- Why the Houthis waited until now to strike
- Pick Your Favored pizza beating
- Mickey Lee of 'Big Brother' fame dead at 35 after flu complications, family says
- Why boosting production of Venezuela's 'very dense, very sloppy' oil could harm the environment
- How to avoid or deal with an outrageous medical bill
- NASA’s Artemis II launch leaves Americans in awe: ‘We’re going to the frickin’ moon!’
