Farmers block roads in Brussels to protest South American free-trade deal

BRUSSELS — Farmers in tractors blocked roads and set off fireworks in Brussels on Wednesday outside a European Union leaders' summit, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons as protesters rallied against a major free-trade deal with South American nations.

Farmers fear that the deal will undercut their livelihoods, and there are broader political concerns that it could also help drive support for the far right.

Thousands of farmers are also expected at twin rallies planned by farmers' unions that are set to converge on Place Luxembourg, a stone's throw from the European Parliament and the Europa Building where leaders of the 27 EU nations are meeting. They are to discuss amending the trade pact or delaying its signing.

Also on the agenda of the EU summit is a proposal to seize Russian assets for use in Ukraine.

Reservations about the deal are growing

On Wednesday, Italy signaled it had reservations too, joining the French-led opposition to signing the massive transatlantic free-trade deal between the EU and the five active Mercosur countries — Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. The deal would progressively remove duties on almost all goods traded between the two blocs over the next 15 years.

Worried by a surging far right that rallies support by criticizing the deal, the French have demanded safeguards to monitor and stop large economic disruption in the EU, increased regulations in the Mercosur nations like pesticide restrictions, and more inspections of imports at EU ports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is determined to sign the agreement, but she needs the backing of at least two-thirds of EU nations.

Italy's opposition would give France enough votes to veto von der Leyen's signature.

''This doesn't mean that Italy intends to block or oppose (the deal), but that it intends to approve the agreement only when it includes adequate reciprocal guarantees for our agricultural sector,'' Meloni said.

The deal could be a counterweight to China and the US

The accord has been under negotiation for 25 years. Once ratified, it would cover a market of 780 million people and a quarter of the globe's gross domestic product. Supporters say it would offer a clear alternative to Beijing's export-controls and Washington's tariff blitzkrieg, while detractors say it will undermine both environmental regulations and the EU's iconic agricultural sector.

Despite the likelihood of a delay, von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are still scheduled to sign the deal in Brazil on Saturday.

''We have to get rid of our over-dependencies, and this is only possible through a network of free-trade agreements,'' said von der Leyen. ''It is of enormous importance that we get the green light for Mercosur.''

South America's agitation over the delays

The political tensions that have marked Mercosur in recent years — especially between Argentina's far-right President Javier Milei and Brazil's center-left Lula da Silva, the bloc's two main partners — have not altered the willingness of South American leaders to seal an alliance with Europe that will result in benefits for their agricultural production.

''We remain optimistic that next Saturday we will have approval from the European Union and, therefore, that we can proceed with the signing of the treaty,'' said Uruguay's Minister of Economy and Finance, Gabriel Oddone.

At a cabinet meeting Wednesday, Lula was clearly irked by Italy and France's positions. He said that Saturday would be a make-or-break moment for the deal.

''If we don't do it now, Brazil won't make any more agreements while I'm president,'' Lula said, adding that the agreement would ''defend multilateralism'' as Trump pursues unilateralism.

Milei, a close ideological ally of Trump, also supports the deal.

''We must stop thinking of Mercosur as a shield that protects us from the world and start thinking of it as a spear that allows us to effectively penetrate global markets,'' he said some time ago.

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