EU-Mercosur free trade pact supporters push for deal by year-end

Paris

SUPPORTERS of a free trade pact between the EU and the Mercosur states in South America, under negotiation for nearly 20 years, are seeking to swim against the current and secure a deal by the end of the year.

"At a moment when the Anglo-Saxon world is in retreat on both sides of the Atlantic . . . we should take advantage of that opportunity to reinforce cross-Atlantic ties between the EU and Latin America," said former Spanish foreign minister Josep Pique in reference to "Brexit" and the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.