Source: Le Monde [France]
“Despite concessions from the European Commission, including a safeguard clause that is due to be adopted by the European Parliament on December 16, Paris has called for a ‘postponement’ of the free trade agreement between the EU and countries in the South American trade bloc. … The issue of a free trade agreement with countries in the Mercosur bloc has always been highly sensitive in France, where part of the farming sector is categorically opposed to the deal, as well as nearly the entire political spectrum. France’s industrial sector, which might benefit from the export opportunities the deal would entail, has supported it, but only in a hushed way. Against this backdrop, an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis among France’s livestock, uncertainty about the 2026 state budget, and the upcoming local elections, set for March 2026, have convinced the president to hit the brakes.” (12/16/25)