Overview

• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, finalized a controversial EU-Mercosur trade deal in Uruguay on Friday, December 6, 2024.
• The agreement, which increases market access between the EU and South American countries, has sparked significant opposition in France, particularly among agricultural sectors fearing unfair competition.
• French President Emmanuel Macron had previously communicated his strong opposition to the deal, labeling it 'unacceptable in its current form.'
• Von der Leyen's absence from the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony in Paris, initially announced by the Commission, has been attributed to a 'communication error,' though tensions over the trade deal loom large.
• French farmers have announced plans to escalate protests in response to the trade agreement, citing threats to their industries and livelihoods.