00:00European Union agriculture ministers will meet on Wednesday for key political talks on the Mercosur deal that could lead to its vote on Friday.
00:11The deal aims to create a free trade area with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
00:19More details on continued support for farmers' income in the next Common Agricultural Policy budget are also expected.
00:27Germany and Spain have been pushing for a quick endorsement in order to access new markets at a time of geoeconomic tensions.
00:36Meanwhile, Italy and France succeeded in postponing a crucial vote in order to protect their farmers,
00:43who worry they will be unable to compete with imports coming from Latin America.
00:48To be implemented, the deal needs support from a qualified majority of EU states.
00:54Wednesday's agenda includes pesticide limits for EU imports, with France pushing for equal production standards.
01:02The country is facing an agricultural crisis, with farmers protesting the Mercosur deal,
01:08as well as the government's handing of a cattle disease outbreak.
01:13WILLING
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