Mercosur hurdle: French objections and farm protests freeze EU trade deal; Brussels faces credibility test

France’s opposition and widespread farmer protests are jeopardizing the EU’s long-delayed free-trade deal with Mercosur. Angry farmers fear competition from cheaper agricultural imports, threatening a pact that has been nearly 25 years in the making. The deal’s signing, planned for December 20, now faces significant delays, potentially pushing it to 2026 or later.