Sun Dec 14 21:32:22 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on it:

Summary:

France is urging the EU to delay a vote on the trade deal with Mercosur, arguing that the current terms are unacceptable. France demands more protections for European agriculture, including stricter import controls, adherence to EU production standards for Mercosur countries, and robust safeguard clauses. They believe the conditions are not met for a vote, especially with a Mercosur summit scheduled for December 20th. Other EU nations are expected to vote on the matter between Tuesday and Friday, and the European Parliament will vote on safeguards for farmers.

News Article:

France Calls for Delay in EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Vote, Citing Unfair Competition

Paris, France – France is pushing for the European Union to postpone a crucial vote on the long-awaited trade agreement with the South American trade bloc Mercosur, arguing that the current terms fail to adequately protect European farmers.

In a statement released Sunday, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office asserted that EU member states cannot approve the agreement in its present form. “France asks that the deadlines be pushed back to continue work on getting the legitimate measures of protection for our European agriculture,” the statement read.

The call for delay comes as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prepares to visit Brazil on Monday to finalize the landmark trade pact. The EU has been negotiating the agreement with Mercosur nations—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—for over two decades.

French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure echoed this sentiment, telling German financial daily Handelsblatt that the treaty is “simply not acceptable” as it stands. France is demanding that Mercosur countries adhere to the same stringent production standards faced by EU farmers, implement effective import controls, and include robust safeguard clauses.

“Until we have obtained assurances on these three points, France will not accept the agreement,” Lescure stated.

French farmers, along with those in other European countries, fear that the trade deal will create unfair competition due to Mercosur’s less stringent standards. This could destabilize already fragile European food sectors.

EU sources indicate that member states are expected to vote on the trade pact between Tuesday and Friday. The European Parliament will also vote on Tuesday on safeguards designed to reassure farmers, particularly those in France, who are fiercely opposed to the treaty.

The EU is Mercosur’s second-largest trading partner in goods, with exports of €57 billion in 2024. It is also the largest foreign investor in the South American bloc, with a stock of €390 billion in 2023. If approved, the EU-Mercosur agreement would create a common market of 722 million people. However, France’s strong stance raises significant doubts about the agreement’s prospects in its current form.

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