Germany told the Mercosur summit it plans to be the first European Union country to ratify the bloc's trade deal, breaking a stalled process next month.
Key Facts
—The pledge. Germany says it plans to be the first European Union country to ratify the EU-Mercosur deal, within a month.
—The voice. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made the commitment at the Mercosur summit in Asunción.
—The backdrop. The trade pillar has applied provisionally since May, but full EU ratification has been stuck.
—The size. The pact links more than seven hundred million people in the world’s largest free-trade zone.
In a push to get the deal over the line, EU agriculture ministers will discuss the agreement on Wednesday. France and Italy have…
Das Zollabkommen mit den Mercosur-Ländern soll der EU neue Märkte erschließen. Es wäre die größte Freihandelszone der Welt.
Deal, which comes as Brussels seeks new markets to offset US tariffs, will open free trade with South American group.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen fast-tracked the announcement on Friday, much to France's dismay.
The agreement paved the way for the European Union's largest-ever trade accord after 25 years of negotiations.
With this approval, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, could travel to Paraguay as early as Monday to sign…
