The EU’s Mercosur agreement is met with objections

After more than two decades of negotiations, the European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc have reached a potentially massive trade deal, but ratifying it will be a difficult and uncertain battle in the EU. France is committed to leading the push to prevent this. The sides agreed in principle on the terms of the trade deal today after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Uruguay this week to attend the Mercosur summit. The deal represents a shift for the EU and the customs union formed by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay to open up new markets for their goods in the face of tough competition from China and tariff threats from Donald Trump. It would amount to the largest trade deal ever concluded by either bloc. An angry French President Emmanuel Macron told von der Leyen the conditions were “unacceptable.” Poland is also against the agreement, citing concerns about its impact on the agricultural sector. European farmers fear they are being unfairly disadvantaged by the influx of goods from Latin America produced to lower standards.

Romania’s highest court After allegations of Russian interference in the election, parliament ordered a restart of the presidential election campaign. This was the first time in the country’s history that a vote was canceled. The Constitutional Court ordered a repeat of last month’s first-round presidential election, canceled the second vote scheduled for Sunday and asked the government to postpone the entire campaign. In the runoff, opposition leader Elena Lasconi was scheduled to face off against far-right newcomer Calin Georgescu, who shocked the political establishment with his victory on November 24th.