Photo: Mlenny/iStock/Getty Images

France pushes for farming ’emergency brake’ in Mercosur deal

Despite previous reservations, France held a meeting with 10 EU countries to discuss a possible trade deal with Latin America's Mercosur bloc, a day after the United States unleashed a global trade war, signalling it may be a way for the bloc to offset the impact of U.S. tariffs on European exports.



Companies that have paid to source agricultural produce that complies with the European Union’s anti-deforestation law would lose out if the EU decides to delay implementing the legislation by a year, industry groups and traders said. Photo: Mlenny/iStock/Getty Images

EU and South America strike trade deal set to hit pushback in Europe

The European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc struck an agreement on a long-delayed free trade deal on Friday which now faces a tortuous battle for approval in Europe, where there is stiff opposition from France. After negotiations spanning over 20 years, and five years on from an initial deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her Mercosur counterparts announced an agreement had been reached in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo.






Farmers gather outside the Basque regional parliament in front of riot police during a protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, in Vitoria, Spain, February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Vincent West

Tractors choke Spanish city streets as farmers protest EU policy

Spain's government, EU distribute additional subsidies, scrap plan to halve pesticide use

Spanish farmers drove tractors through city streets, disrupting traffic on Thursday as they stepped up their protests against soaring costs, bureaucracy and cheap competition from outside the European Union.

A cargo ship is loaded with Brazilian soybeans bound for China. (Photo: Reuters/Paulo Whitaker)

Trade pacts, food policy on AAFC’s agenda for 2020-21

Department also plans to back collaborative research between farmers, scientists

Improving international trade and introducing the new food policy highlight Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) plans for the next year. In its 2020-21 departmental plan, which sets priorities for the upcoming year, AAFC says it will “continue to assist the sector to take advantage of market opportunities and maintain or improve access to international markets, […] Read more