Brazil may delay EU-Mercosur deal amid Brussels protests

BRUSSELS:

Police fired teargas at farmers protesting the EU’s planned trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur in Brussels Thursday, as Brazil opened the door to postponing its signature to win over reluctant Europeans.

About 1,000 honking tractors rolled into the Belgian capital, where the deal loomed large over an EU summit focused on funding Ukraine’s war effort.

EU plans to have the pact sealed this week were thrown into disarray by Italy joining fellow heavyweight France in demanding a delay.

The last-mile upset drew a now-or-never ultimatum from Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva — but he softened his tone Thursday, saying he would present an Italian request for a delay to fellow Mercosur nations.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “asked me that if we have patience for a week, 10 days, a month, Italy will be ready for the agreement,” Lula said after a phone call with Meloni adding the request would be discussed at a meeting of the Mercosur trading bloc.

Key power Germany, as well as Spain and the Nordic countries, strongly support the Mercosur pact, eager to boost exports as Europe grapples with Chinese competition and a tariff-happy administration in the White House.

But farmers, particularly in France, worry the deal will see them undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours.

Tensions boiled over in Brussels Thursday after a mostly peaceful protest involving at least 7,000 farmers.

Rowdy scenes erupted outside the European Parliament, where protesters lit fires, set off fireworks and hurled potatoes, bottles and other objects at the police who responded with tear gas and water cannon.