Mercosur splits dampen EU outlook for trade deal as window narrows

BRASILIA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Splits within South American trade bloc Mercosur have dampened hopes in the European Union of a trade deal, which could fall apart if it does not get done by the end of the year, diplomats and members of the European Parliament told Reuters. Two of Mercosur's four countries have yet to reply to an addendum in which Brussels included environmental safeguards to address reservations by many EU member states, diplomats said. Many had hoped for a swift conclusion to the trade deal under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who overhauled Brazil's environmental policies to protect the Amazon rainforest since taking office this year.

Related Keywords

Spain , New Delhi , Delhi , India , Brazil , Austria , China , Ukraine , Paraguay , Russia , Asuncion , Villeta , Brussels , Bruxelles Capitale , Belgium , Montevideo , Uruguay , United States , Brasilia , Distrito Federal , American , Austrian , Russian , America , Uruguayan , Thomas Waitz , Richard Chang , Guillermo Valles Galm , Philip Blenkinsop , Luiz Inacio Lula , Daniela Desantis , Anthony Boadle , Bernd Lange , Lucinda Elliot , Brad Haynes , Javier Milei , A European Parliament , European Parliament , European Union , European Commission , Reuters , South American , President Luiz Inacio Lula , Latin America , European Commission President Ursula , Brazil Guillermo Valles Galm , Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva , U Member States , Mercosur , Trade Deal , European Negotiators , Trade Bloc , European Diplomats , International Trade ,