Overview
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the Paraguay ceremony even though the European Parliament has not set a vote.
- Farmers kept up pressure with a tractor rally near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and plan a 20 January protest outside the European Parliament.
- Producer groups in Europe warn of cheaper imports from countries with different sanitary and environmental standards under the accord.
- In Uruguay, an industry leader cautioned that stronger competition could force closures in processing sectors without domestic support measures.
- The agreement links markets of about 718 million people with a combined GDP near $22.4 trillion, promising tariff cuts and expanded access.