Uruguay
The Mercosur trade bloc met on Wednesday December 5 in Uruguay with hopes of finalizing a long-awaited trade deal with the European Union.

Supported by most South American countries and championed by Germany and Spain, the agreement faces opposition from France due to agricultural competition concerns.

Negotiators made progress in recent talks, but unresolved issues may delay signing.

While EU President Ursula von der Leyen is prepared to attend the summit if an agreement is reached, many remain skeptical about its immediate conclusion, citing ongoing domestic EU challenges and diplomatic hurdles.

The potential Mercosur-EU trade deal could impact the cattle hide industry by influencing trade dynamics between South America and Europe.

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