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“When they are ready, we are ready,” von der Leyen said. With
backing from Europe leaders, she said she the Commission will
“provisionally apply the agreement” after Uruguay and Argentina
ratified the EU-Mercosur trade deal on Thursday.
The deal has been negotiated for a quarter century among
countries that are now home to more than 700 million people and
account for a quarter of global gross domestic product, creating
one of the world’s largest free trade zones.
It follows global trade shocks from the tariffs imposed by the
United States and throttling of critical mineral supplies for
China that pushed the 27-nation EU to forge a raft of free trade
deals with other nations across the world.
However, the deal has faced vehement opposition from Europe’s
agriculture sector and was expected to face tough questions by
elected representatives in European Parliament.
Von der Leyen is basically sidestepping for now those lawmakers
— an unusual move for the European executive and one likely to
prompt criticism.
“Mercosur embodies the spirit in which Europe is acting on the
global scene,” von der Leyen said at a news conference. No
questions were allowed.
“Our businesses, our workers, and our citizens will reap the
benefits, and they should reap them as soon as possible," she
added. "This is about resilience, this is about growth, and
Europe shaping its own future.”
She also acknowledged that the "agreement can only be fully
concluded once the European Parliament has given its consent.”
“So the commission will continue closely with all EU
institutions, member states, and stakeholders to ensure a smooth
and transparent process,” she said.
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