The European Union has announced a delay to its proposed trade agreement with South American trading bloc Mercosur.

In October, leather industry body COTANCE was among the many European business organisations to call for prompt ratification of the deal, which the two economic communities agreed in December 2024.

On December 18, the European Commission said it had agreed with its partners in Mercosur to postpone finalising the agreement. It said they had “achieved a breakthrough” that paved the way for completion of the agreement in January.

“We need a few extra weeks to address some issues with member states,” said the Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen.

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