00:00Italy's Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni backed France and agreed it is too early to seal the
00:07EU-Mercosur deal. Meloni clarifies that this does not mean Italy intends to block or oppose the
00:14agreement but rather seeks to improve it. The Mercosur trade deal was struck by the European
00:20Commission in 2024 with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. EU farmers argue that it
00:27would expose them to unfair competition, while supporters of the deal say it would unlock new
00:32markets vital for the EU economy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was
00:39hoping to finalize the deal this month and plan to travel to Brazil to sign it. However, this is not
00:45possible without the approval of all member states first. France, Hungary, Poland and Austria have
00:52opposed the deal, with France leading the opposition, calling for stronger safeguards to
00:57protect farmers from unfair competition, as well as a reciprocity clause that would require
01:01Mercosur products to meet the same production standards as within the EU. The EU member states
01:08are due to vote on the deal this week, but France sought to delay this to the new year.
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