While the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen landed in Uruguay to finalize the Mercosur agreement, France, in the midst of a political crisis, continues to voice its opposition to the trade agreement.
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00:00The controversial signing of a trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur
00:07countries seems to be closer than ever. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Uruguay
00:14for a meeting with the group's Latin American member countries on Friday.
00:18Many thanks. The intention is to finalize the last political negotiations to conclude
00:27what would be a groundbreaking and historic partnership agreement between the EU and the Mercosur region.
00:34French President Emmanuel Macron has warned von der Leyen that the deal is unacceptable as it stands.
00:41But France, the main opponent of the pact, is mired in a deep political crisis.
00:46Brussels hasn't said whether the final signature, which would come after 25 years of negotiations,
00:52will take place this week or not.
00:55But this wouldn't be the last step as the European Parliament and EU countries will also get a say.
01:01The agreement with the Mercosur countries, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay,
01:07would create the world's largest tariff-free trade area.
01:11It would allow for increased exports of European goods such as cars.
01:16But it would also allow the import of Latin American meat and agricultural products,
01:20which some countries in Europe, particularly France, have opposed.