Representatives of the European Union’s (EU) member states voted in Brussels on Friday in favour of a free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, formed by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. This paves the way for the creation of the world’s largest free-trade area, comprising more than 715 million inhabitants (447 million in the EU and 270 million in Mercosur). However, they were not able to muster the “blocking minority” — representing 35% or more of the bloc’s population — needed to stop the deal. Many EU farmers see the deal with Mercosur as unfair competition that will affect rural livelihoods. Italy has a population of 59 million, and its opposition would have been enough to form a blocking minority.

Source: Bueno Aires Herald January 09, 2026 14:27 UTC