{"text":[[{"start":7.68,"text":"EU member states have backed a controversial trade deal with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries despite continued protests by farmers against the pact."}],[{"start":19.119999999999997,"text":"Only France, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Ireland voted against the EU’s biggest-ever trade deal, while Belgium abstained, according to two EU diplomats."}],[{"start":31.949999999999996,"text":"Italy, whose backing was vital for the deal’s approval, voted in favour after securing concessions from the European Commission for farmers."}],[{"start":41.879999999999995,"text":"Friday’s vote still requires the approval of the European parliament within the next few months. It must also be ratified by the Mercosur countries, which include Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay."}],[{"start":56.01,"text":"The deal, which has taken 25 years to negotiate, will cut almost all trade tariffs in a market of 700mn people."}],[{"start":66.3,"text":"Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed the development as an “historic day for multilateralism”."}],[{"start":74.39999999999999,"text":"“In an international context of increasing protectionism and unilateralism, the agreement signals support for international trade as a driver of economic growth, benefiting both blocs,” the leftwing leader posted on social media."}],[{"start":91.58999999999999,"text":"While European industry backed the pact, its farmers have staged violent demonstrations against it."}],[{"start":98.16999999999999,"text":"French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he would oppose it because “there is unanimous political rejection of the agreement” in the country."}],[{"start":108.35999999999999,"text":"On Friday German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has pushed hard for the deal to be signed, saluted “a milestone in European trade policy and an important signal of our strategic sovereignty and ability to act”."}],[{"start":122.64999999999998,"text":"“However, 25 years of negotiations were too long,” added the German leader, who is struggling to rekindle Europe’s largest economy. “Now it is important to conclude the next free trade agreements quickly.”"}],[{"start":135.95,"text":"The bloc is closing in on deals with Australia, India and Malaysia and is about to vote on one with Mexico."}],[{"start":144.78,"text":"In recent weeks Brussels offered several concessions to farmers to secure the support of Italy and other agricultural powerhouses for the Mercosur deal."}],[{"start":156.98,"text":"This week the Commission proposed allowing member states to funnel an extra €45bn to farmers in a new seven-year budget from 2028."}],[{"start":169.17999999999998,"text":"The EU has also agreed safeguards that would protect farmers from market disruption arising from increased imports from the Mercosur countries."}],[{"start":180.23,"text":"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a press conference on Friday that “we’ve always said we’re in favour of the Mercosur agreement when there are sufficient guarantees for our farmers”."}],[{"start":192.48,"text":"With the additional funds and safeguards for agriculture, Meloni said Rome felt the deal struck an adequate balance between the interests of farmers and industry."}],[{"start":203.48,"text":"“I hope that the agreement can clearly bring, as I believe it will, benefits to many areas,” she said. "}],[{"start":211.53,"text":"However, Copa-Cogeca, the biggest farm lobby group in the EU, said its members “remain unanimous and united in denouncing a deal which remains fundamentally unbalanced and flawed in its core”. It said it would “mobilise” to persuade the European parliament to reject the accord."}],[{"start":231.57,"text":"French, Polish and Green MEPs will probably vote against the pact, along with members from left and far right parties. Co-chair of the European Green Party Vula Tsetsi attacked its “impact on deforestation, labour rights and environmental protections”."}],[{"start":250.25,"text":"But Javi López, a senior Spanish Socialist MEP, said he expected it to pass and said US President Donald Trump “will have contributed decisively” to member states’ support for the pact."}],[{"start":263.89,"text":"“In this new world, our relationship with Brazil and Mexico is key to regional stability and to Europe’s strategic autonomy,” he said."}],[{"start":274.89,"text":"Additional reporting by Anne-Sylvaine Chassany in Berlin and Amy Kazmin in Rome"}],[{"start":287.50999999999993,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1768184952_8914.mp3"}