PARIS, France: France on Sunday urged the European Union to postpone the deadlines set for signing a free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur, rejecting the deal in its current form. In a statement from Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office, Paris said the conditions were not in place for EU member states to vote on the agreement. “France asks that the deadlines be pushed back to continue work on getting the legitimate measures of protection for our European agriculture,” said the statement.

Secondo fonti europee, gli Stati membri dell’Ue dovrebbero pronunciarsi sull’accordo commerciale nel suo complesso tra il 16 e il 19 dicembre

Paris says EU member states cannot vote on the trade agreement in its current state.