After Prime Minister Michel Barnier said the trade deal between the EU and four South American countries was 'unacceptable,' Economy Minister Antoine Armand said France was 'employing all means' to block it.

As European farmers protest against a renewed push to ratify the controversial free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur South American trade bloc, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier

According to Politico, the EU agreement with South American countries could be signed later this year. The protests have been announced by FNSEA,

Ursula von der Leyen is confident a trade agreement with the South American countries can be reached. The EU Commission president is due to meet Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Wednesday.

French farmers have protested against a trade deal that would increase agricultural imports from South America, saying it hurt their livelihoods.

European farmers protested in Brussels on Wednesday against the EU-Mercosur free trade deal with South American countries, with farmers in neighbouring France saying they would follow suit from early next week.

Hundreds of farmers gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to protest against a major trade deal between the EU and Mercosur countries, worrying that the influx of cheap products would lead to unfair competition and impact local farmers' livelihoods.