Overview
- European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen will sign the EU–Mercosur trade agreement in Paraguay on Jan 17, Brussels confirmed.
- EU member states gave the long-delayed pact a go-ahead on Jan 9, overriding opposition led by France.
- French farmers stepped up protests with blockades targeting ports, roads and logistics hubs in La Rochelle, Bayonne, Le Havre and on the A1 motorway, while an A63 action was lifted after talks.
- Far-right and far-left parties in France filed no-confidence motions over the government's failure to stop the deal, but the Socialist Party said it will not support them.
- The agreement would form one of the world’s largest free-trade areas across Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with supporters citing export and diplomatic gains, and Paraguay hosts as Mercosur’s current chair.